How long does it take to become a Business Manager?

It takes 6 years of professional experience to become a business manager. That is the time it takes to learn specific business manager skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 9 to 11 years years to become a business manager.

How do I become a successful business manager?

To become a successful business manager, a person needs to develop good leadership skills. Business managers should have strong leadership skills and interpersonal abilities, and a well-developed sense of business operations.

What qualifications do you need to be a business manager?

The qualifications you need to be a business manager include a bachelor's degree, relevant work experience, and leadership skills. To become a business manager, it is essential to earn a bachelor's degree in administration, accounting, finance, or marketing.

How To Become A Business Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a business manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Wayne Counts

Business managers oversee the day-to-day operations of a company, setting goals, instructing and evaluating employees, and monitoring processes. They do it all.

They go to meetings all day to receive reports from team and department leads. They delegate tasks, decide on priorities, plan budgets, and keep their eye on the big picture.

Business managers have a good life, once they learn how to not crack under pressure.

They work out of an office and typically stick to a 40 hour a week load. They travel for meetings and professional visits. Depending on the size and type of business, managers can make anything between $85,000 and $150,000, or more, with benefits, of course.

On the flip side, they are kind of responsible for the achievements of the company. But who says you can't handle it?

What general advice would you give to a business manager?

Wayne Counts

Associate Dean, The University of Texas Permian Basin

I think there will be an impact, both visible and invisible, for years to come. One of the big changes will be in how we do things. The change to remote and virtual business will probably never be fully reversed.

ScoreBusiness ManagerUS Average

Salary

6.5

Avg. Salary $83,198

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%

Asian 6.40%

Black or African American 6.23%

Hispanic or Latino 15.34%

Unknown 4.34%

White 67.21%

Gender

female 56.83%

male 43.17%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.2

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a business manager

Explore business manager education requirements

Most common business manager degrees

Bachelor's

65.2 %

Associate

14.3 %

Master's

12.5 %

Start to develop specific business manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	20.54%
PowerPoint	7.19%
Project Management	6.48%
Human Resources	6.13%
Payroll Taxes	4.81%

Complete relevant business manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New business managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a business manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real business manager resumes.

Gain additional business manager certifications

Business manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific business manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for business managers include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP).

More About Certifications

Research business manager duties and responsibilities

Coordinate and manage hvac projects from estimate to invoice.
Manage accounting, treasury, and process improvement initiatives to effect financial turnaround of CMRO business unit.
Manage and supervise firm operations on a daily basis including purchases, accounting, scheduling of vendors, attorney and CPA.
Create solutions in the areas of invoicing, AR reporting and payment methods that lead to system improvements and streamline processes.

Prepare your business manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your business manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a business manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable business manager resume templates

Build a professional business manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your business manager resume.

Apply for business manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a business manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first business manager job

Taio Aseel

Business Manager

My story began with continuous learning, as I attended many courses in the field of entrepreneurship and business management, and benefited from the experiences of successful businessmen through reading and personal conversations.

I was always challenging myself and striving to innovate, as I was constantly looking for new opportunities and unexplored areas. I invested in information technology and digital innovations, which helped me achieve great successes in the business world.

Moreover, I had a clear vision and a strong strategy, creating an integrated business plan and setting specific and tangible goals to achieve my dreams. I used my leadership skills to guide the work team towards success and motivate them to achieve their highest levels.

By continuing to work hard and continuing to grow and learn, I have built a successful business empire and my story has become an inspiration for ambitious young people pursuing their dreams in the business world.

How do business managers rate their job?

5/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Business manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Cons

Disciplining my team for mistakes they can prevent, such as attendance.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019

Cons

The only thing that would make my career a little better is the pay.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019

Pros

People Busy Money Busy and variety in a job Solving problems