How To Write a Business Owner Resume
Whether it’s to obtain new customers or pursue a career as a manager for a new company, building an accomplishment-driven resume will be vital to your success as a business owner. We’ll help you translate your experience into a powerful marketing document.
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your experience
To generate interviews, you’ll need to craft a compelling profile that captures the most compelling aspects of your career as a business owner. Create a narrative that illustrates your unique experiences, achievements, and industry expertise. Always tailor your summary to the need at hand. For example, an experienced entrepreneur seeking investment support might list past successes with other businesses, while a business owner hoping to speak at a conference should demonstrate what makes their journey interesting to the audience.
Senior-Level Profile Example
A senior business owner with over 10 years of experience specializing in entrepreneurship, venture capital investors, new business development, and talent acquisition. Proven track record of building and developing multi-million-dollar businesses within the technology industry. A strong history of defining business strategies and driving innovation to disrupt stagnant markets.
Entry-Level Profile Example
A results-driven business owner specializing in operations management, marketing, strategy development, and team leadership. Proven track record of developing business plans and building relationships with clients to grow the customer base. Adept at identifying opportunities to increase market share.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
Your professional experience section may include work you did for other organizations before launching your company. It should also include active, metric-based information about your tenure as a business owner. Tell a story about your capability, knowledge, and experience that aligns with your goal. Feature the results if you’ve led initiatives to drive revenue growth or sales. Incorporate KPIs and monetary figures to create a sense of scope for your achievements if you successfully built and scaled a business.
It’s also important to prioritize information that is most relevant for your current business objectives. For example, if you’re seeking venture capital funding for a startup, highlight your vision for the company and your experience bringing innovative business ideas into reality. But if you’re seeking a new job after owning a business, you may want to focus on relevant business skills and accomplishments that demonstrate what you can do for your new employer.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Business Owner
Bay Area Software Partners Inc., San Francisco, CA | September 2011 – present
- Build, manage, and develop a start-up technology company delivering innovative software as a service (SaaS) solutions to enterprise businesses, which includes securing over $1.5 million from angel investors and providing presentations on the product and overarching business model.
- Secure new business with multinational enterprise customers and attend meetings with C-level executives, resulting in over $15 million in gross annual revenue for 2020
- Identify opportunities to improve gross margins by 10% through selecting ideal vendors and negotiating optimal pricing
- Manage, hire, and build a team of marketing professionals, software developers, and sales executives to develop and deploy SaaS solutions for client accounts
- Create financial presentations on business performance for annual shareholder meetings and define overarching business strategy
- Define marketing strategy to secure new business and drive brand awareness
Entry-level Professional Experience Example
Business Owner
Jameson Writing Service Inc., New York, NY | September 2019 – present
- Build, manage, and operate an online boutique business providing professional writing services to individuals and small business clients, including blog posts, web pages, resume writing services, bio pages, and LinkedIn profiles
- Develop the business model, secure website domain, and coordinate with two web designers to create the website, product pages, and online shopping cart
- Build long-term relationships with clients, deliver consultations on services based on customer needs, and close over $250,000 in annual revenue
- Manage, hire, and develop a team of freelancers to deliver writing services to customers, which includes performing quality assurance reviews on deliverables
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Often, the success of your start-up or other business endeavors is the only credential you need to impress investors, land speaking gigs, or even get a different job. Not all business owners have degrees, and that’s okay.
But if you do have a bachelor’s, master’s, or any specialty certificates, create a bulleted list for your resume that details these credentials. When your resume stacks up against others, a Master Degree in Business Administration or a certificate in project management can help you stand out.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
Example:
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Marketing
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX – May 2016
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization] – [Completion Year]
Example:
Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute – 2019
4. List pertinent key skills
It’s critical to include relevant key phrases that help your audience scan your resume and ensure compliance with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Consider what might be most important to the person reviewing your resume, and include key skills relevant to their needs or goals. Ensure these proficiencies actually match your experience, though, as you don’t want to oversell or set false expectations for your skill set. Some common key skills for business owners include:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Business administration | Business development |
| Business models | Business strategy |
| Business transformation | Capital venture investors |
| Change management | Cross-functional leadership |
| Customer relationship management | Entrepreneurship |
| Financial analysis | Growth strategy |
| Human resources (HR) | Investor relations |
| Marketing | Operations management |
| Organizational development | Revenue generation |
| Risk management | Sales |
How To Pick the Best Business Owner Resume Template
Reduce the work in creating a business owner resume by starting with a template. Choose a simple template that ensures the reader’s attention is on the details of your story. Although flashy colors and graphics may be visually appealing, they can often have the opposite effect. If your template is too reliant on visual elements, it may distract the reader from your qualifications and achievements. Stick with a traditional, straightforward template that keeps your audience engaged with your content.
Business Owner Text-Only Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Nick Jameson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, New York, NY 12345
Profile
A results-driven business owner specializing in operations management, marketing, strategy development, and team leadership. A proven track record of developing business plans and building relationships with clients to grow the customer base. Adept at identifying opportunities to increase market share.
Professional Experience
Business Owner, Jameson Writing Service Inc., New York, NY
September 2019 – Present
- Build, manage, and operate an online boutique business providing professional writing services to individuals and small business clients, including blog posts, web pages, resume writing services, bio pages, and LinkedIn profiles
- Develop the business model, secure website domain, and coordinate with two web developers to create the website, product pages, and online shopping cart
- Build long-term relationships with clients, deliver consultations on services based on customer needs, and close over $250K in annual revenue
- Manage, hire, and develop a team of freelancers to deliver writing services to customers, which includes performing quality assurance reviews on deliverables
Freelance Business Consultant, Self-Employed, New York, NY
May 2018 – September 2019
- Provided business consulting services to small businesses within the greater New York area, which included analyzing business operations and providing recommendations to reduce overhead costs and improve gross margins
- Attended meetings with clients to review financial records and operating procedures, and identified appropriate business solutions based on cash flow and long-term objectives
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
Columbia University, New York, NY September 2014 – May 2018
Key Skills
- Business Development
- Operations Management
- Client Relations
- Entrepreneurship
- Business Process Improvement
Maria Lopez
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, Austin, TX 12345
Profile
An entrepreneur and business owner with five years of experience specializing in business development, marketing strategy, client relations, and strategic planning. A proven track record of building successful businesses from the ground up and defining growth strategies. Adept at identifying opportunities to enhance market penetration and brand recognition.
Professional Experience
Business Owner, Lopez Marketing Inc., Austin, TX
September 2017 – Present
- Manage, own, and operate a marketing consulting company generating over $650K in gross annual revenue, which includes defining the business model and delivering marketing services to enhance social media and brand messaging for customers
- Hire, develop, and manage a team of marketing professionals, graphic designers, and social media specialists to grow brand awareness for new products and start-ups
- Interface with C-level executives and client stakeholders to assess marketing needs, define brand messaging, and ensure alignment of services with business objectives
- Lead social media and email marketing campaigns to drive new business development, resulting in a 30% increase in sales from 2018 to 2019
Marketing Consultant, Self-employed, Austin, TX
May 2016 – September 2017
- Served as a freelance marketing consultant for small and medium-sized business clients, which included evaluating marketing and social media presence and developing strategies to improve brand exposure and marketing performance
- Provided consultative services for the build out of company websites, which included creating content for product pages and defining the visual design of the site
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Marketing
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX September 2012 – May 2016
Key Skills
- Business Management
- Marketing Strategy
- Social Media Marketing
- Team Management
- Business Modeling
- Growth Marketing
Akira Sato
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, San Francisco, CA 12345
Profile
A senior business owner with 10+ years of experience specializing in entrepreneurship, venture capital investors, new business development, and talent acquisition. A proven track record of building and developing multi-million-dollar businesses within the technology industry. A strong history of defining business strategies and driving innovation to disrupt stagnant markets.
Professional Experience
Business Owner, Bay Area Software Partners Inc., San Francisco, CA
September 2011 – Present
- Build, manage, and develop a startup technology company delivering innovative SaaS solutions to enterprise businesses, which includes securing over $1.5M from angel investors and providing presentations on the product and overarching business model
- Secure new business with multinational enterprise customers and attend meetings with C-level executives, resulting in over $15M in gross annual revenue for 2020
- Identify opportunities to improve gross margins by 10% through selecting ideal vendors and negotiating optimal pricing
- Manage, hire, and build a team of marketing professionals, software developers, and sales executives to develop and deploy SaaS solutions for client accounts
- Create financial presentations on business performance for annual shareholder meetings and define overarching business strategy
- Define marketing strategy to secure new business and drive brand awareness
Education
Master of Business Administration (M.A.)
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA May 2011 – May 2013
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA September 2007 – May 2011
Key Skills
- New Business Development
- Entrepreneurship
- Strategy Development
- Investor Relations
- Cross-functional Leadership
Frequently Asked Questions: Business Owner Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for business owner resumes?+
As a business owner, you play an active role in the success of your organization. Ensure your resume conveys that by including action verbs demonstrating ways you’re critical to running your business. Start bullet points and sentences with action verbs to better engage your audience and make it clear you’re willing to do the work to make your dreams a reality. Use the most relevant words possible — you can get some inspiration from the list below:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Built |
| Collaborated | Created |
| Designed | Developed |
| Directed | Drove |
| Enhanced | Executed |
| Generated | Identified |
| Implemented | Improved |
| Led | Liaised |
| Managed | Oversaw |
| Partnered | Spearheaded |
How do you align your resume with a business owner job description?+
As a business owner, you may not be applying for a traditional job. But you can still align your resume with the opportunity at hand to increase your chances of success. Start by researching what is important to the decision-makers for the opportunity.
For example, if you’re seeking an investor, read up on past investments by the firm. If you find trends, you can align your resume to speak to those patterns. And if you are looking for a new job, ensure you include key phrases from the job posting in your resume and speak to the desires of the hiring organization in your profile summary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, business and financial opportunities are growing at a rate of around 7%, and you can increase your chances of landing an opportunity by correctly tweaking your resume.
What is the best business owner resume format?+
Most business owners may opt for the reverse-chronological resume format. This format puts your current work in the top third of your resume, ensuring it gets the most attention but allows room for you to tell a story about your history in the business.
However, suppose you’re angling for a speaking gig or want to demonstrate your vision and values to an investor. In that case, you may want to opt for a combination format that shines an equal light on your skills and unique qualifications.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
A business owner cover letter lets you further customize your communication by adding some personal information that might not fit well on a resume or highlighting skills or experience you don’t want the individual to miss. If you’re unsure how to start your cover letter, get some inspiration from our business resume cover letter examples.
