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How to hire a business general manager

Business general manager hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring business general managers in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a business general manager is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per business general manager on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 303,712 business general managers in the US, and there are currently 411,126 job openings in this field.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for business general managers, with 3 job openings.

How to hire a business general manager, step by step

To hire a business general manager, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a business general manager, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step business general manager hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a business general manager job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new business general manager
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a business general manager do?

A business general manager oversees the daily operations in a business establishment or office. They are typically in charge of setting goals and objectives, establishing guidelines and schedules, assessing the performance of the workforce, coordinating departments, and developing strategies to optimize business procedures. They may also perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports, answering calls and correspondence, and preparing documents and presentations. Furthermore, as a general manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals and sales targets, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Learn more about the specifics of what a business general manager does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The business general manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a business general manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a business general manager that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of business general manager salaries for various roles:

    Type of Business General ManagerDescriptionHourly rate
    Business General ManagerTop executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.$22-53
    Manager Of Business ServicesBusiness Service Managers are administrative professionals who oversee different service-related functions in the company. They manage the teams involved in serving various functions... Show more$32-67
    Division ManagerDivision managers supervise a section of the company and are responsible for that division's success. General duties include organizing, planning, allocating resources, and managing the daily operations of the sector... Show more$24-62
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • General Business
    • CRM
    • Human Resources
    • Business Processes
    • Customer Satisfaction
    • Business Operations
    • Facebook
    • Business Plan
    • Customer Service
    • Financial Statements
    • Product Development
    • A/P
    • Payroll
    • Inventory Control
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage business start-up from formation including development of business and marketing plans, equipment selection/installation, staffing, and product offerings.
    • Manage business start-up from formation including development of business and marketing plans, equipment selection/installation, staffing, and product offerings.
    • File all Medicaid and commercial insurance prior authorizations with all the proper documentation.
    • Develop and implement standardized visual controls allowing faster response to production, TPM, safety and training abnormalities.
    • Optimize processing and ensure accuracy of accounts payable function using QuickBooks.
    More business general manager duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the business general manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. A business general manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a business general manager in Kentucky may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level business general manager. Additionally, a business general manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average business general manager salary

    $72,676yearly

    $34.94 hourly rate

    Entry-level business general manager salary
    $46,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 17, 2025

    Average business general manager salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New Jersey$102,889$49
    2New York$92,601$45
    3Massachusetts$79,442$38
    4Colorado$76,332$37
    5Oregon$75,333$36
    6Pennsylvania$74,166$36
    7California$73,959$36
    8Maryland$69,122$33
    9Texas$62,093$30
    10Illinois$61,661$30
    11Alabama$56,789$27
    12Georgia$55,713$27
    13Louisiana$53,595$26
    14South Carolina$51,549$25

    Average business general manager salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1BlackRock$123,646$59.456
    2Nike$118,312$56.8821
    3Navistar$99,366$47.77
    4Delta Air Lines$96,859$46.577
    5Spring Care$82,021$39.434
    6Citrine Informatics$80,422$38.66
    7Ernst Concrete$78,154$37.57
    8Sky Bird Travel$78,020$37.51
    9Nashville Classical Charter School$77,760$37.381
    10Allen & Gerritsen$76,573$36.81
    11CAST Software$75,332$36.22
    12NICE Systems$73,081$35.142
    13Brown's Chicken$70,419$33.86
    14Little Diversified Architectural Consulting$68,939$33.14
    15IntelliDyne$66,801$32.12
    16Compass Group USA$65,949$31.71522
    17Aramark$57,471$27.63264
    18Concordia University Irvine$51,170$24.60
    19Domino's Pizza$35,547$17.095,155
  4. Writing a business general manager job description

    A good business general manager job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a business general manager job description:

    Business general manager job description example

    Interested in joining our team, but don't see a current open role that aligns with your experience? Feel free to apply here and we'll keep you on file and reach out when one opens up!
    About Citrine

    At Citrine, we're ushering in the next generation of sustainable, high-performing materials and chemicals.

    We are the industry leader in AI for materials and chemicals. Our platform provides data management and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools that help our customers rapidly develop higher performing, more sustainable materials. Our users are scientists and engineers at market-leading manufacturing and materials companies and we collaborate with professors and researchers from world-renowned institutions on cutting-edge research at the intersection of AI and the physical sciences.

    In 2021 and 2020, Citrine was recognized for our impact on sustainability by the Global CleanTech Group. We earned a spot on both the CB Insights AI 100 List and the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the US. In 2021, we also gained our third patent for materials-specific ML technology. As a team, we are ambitious with our goals, passionate about our vision, and eager to grow and learn from each other. Our team is growing fast and looking for the best to join us.

    Our Platform gives product developers, researchers, and engineers access to cutting-edge, domain-specific AI, all without writing a line of code. This enables our customers to discover and deploy the next generation of sustainable, high-performing materials and chemicals up to 98% faster than traditional R&D approaches. We have employees across the country including the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Boston, and Raleigh-Durham areas, and our customers include multiple Fortune 100 materials, product, and manufacturing companies.

    Equal Opportunity

    All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, or national origin. Studies have shown that women and underrepresented minorities are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification listed. Citrine Informatics is invested in creating a diverse, authentic, and inclusive team, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't perfectly align with what you read above, please consider applying regardless!

    Our Core Values

    Citrine Informatics recognizes that its most valuable asset is its people. We have created our set of Core Values to encourage, support, and invest in our team as they work to innovate and support a more sustainable world. Our Core Values reflect our ongoing commitment to continuously invest in nurturing our talent and our people-first approach to conducting business.

    - We take pride in and recognize the successes and growth of ourselves and our colleagues. We support each other in our growth.
    - We prototype and collect data to make good decisions. We question that data and are constantly iterating to find the best solution.
    - We are all owners of Citrine and make decisions like owners. We work autonomously with personal and organizational accountability.
    - We commit to building a diverse and inclusive community within Citrine and actively promote equity and belonging.
    - We are tirelessly committed to creating value for our customers.
    - We exist to help our customers accelerate the development of sustainable products that are critical to the future of both our planet and our industry.

    Our Benefits (for exempt, full-time employees based within the United States)

    401k with matching up to 4% of salary
    Medical, vision, dental insurance (we pay 100% of your premium and 75% of your dependents)
    FSA and HSA plans
    Equity options
    Parental leave
    Flexible PTO on top of our 15 paid company holidays (includes your birthday!)
    Free financial counseling
    $600 onboarding tech allowance
    $5,000 annual professional growth budget
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right business general manager for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your business general manager job on Zippia to find and recruit business general manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with business general manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new business general manager

    Once you've selected the best business general manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new business general manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a business general manager?

Hiring a business general manager comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting business general managers involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of business general manager recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $72,676 per year for a business general manager, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for business general managers in the US typically range between $22 and $53 an hour.

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