How to hire a business manager

How to hire a business manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step business 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 manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new business manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a business manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The business 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?

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   Hiring the perfect business manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents business manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Business Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Business Manager	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$22-69
   Manager Of Business Services	Business 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
   Office And Operations Manager	Office and Operations managers are tenured or experienced employees with a strong office administration and business operations background. They oversee office operations and ensure that the administrative team is working well... Show more	$18-38

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • PowerPoint
   • Project Management
   • Human Resources
   • Payroll Taxes
   • Business Plan
   • Business Management
   • Business Development
   • Financial Performance
   • Business Operations
   • Product Knowledge
   • Financial Management
   • Financial Analysis
   • Direct Reports

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Manage all human resource activities, operational processes and financial oversight.
   • Develop internal operating procedures design to achieve efficient clinic operations and maximum service to patients.

   More business manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your business manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A business manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, business managers' average salary in arkansas is 63% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level business managers 68% less than senior-level business managers.
   • Certifications. A business manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a business manager's salary.

   Average business manager salary

   $83,198yearly

   $40.00 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level business manager salary

   $47,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 24, 2025

   Average business manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$117,523	$57
   2	New Jersey	$110,778	$53
   3	California	$107,888	$52
   4	New York	$106,100	$51
   5	Massachusetts	$99,032	$48
   6	Virginia	$97,758	$47
   7	District of Columbia	$95,996	$46
   8	Minnesota	$83,491	$40
   9	Oregon	$83,226	$40
   10	Illinois	$78,301	$38
   11	North Carolina	$77,605	$37
   12	Pennsylvania	$77,260	$37
   13	Maryland	$75,847	$36
   14	Colorado	$75,395	$36
   15	Michigan	$72,548	$35
   16	Texas	$71,813	$35
   17	Indiana	$68,499	$33
   18	Ohio	$67,183	$32
   19	Georgia	$60,556	$29
   20	Arizona	$60,522	$29

   Average business manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Citadel	$189,880	$91.29	5
   2	Boston Consulting Group	$184,222	$88.57	2
   3	ZS	$183,329	$88.14	5
   4	Meta	$159,894	$76.87	197
   5	The Walt Disney Company	$158,294	$76.10	26
   6	Pure Storage	$154,643	$74.35	16
   7	Citi	$154,531	$74.29	24
   8	BP America Inc	$153,879	$73.98
   9	Chevron	$151,406	$72.79	13
   10	Google	$151,125	$72.66	142
   11	PayPal	$150,799	$72.50	37
   12	Apple	$150,307	$72.26	35
   13	ORIX USA	$149,614	$71.93
   14	Pwc	$149,386	$71.82	1,473
   15	Accenture	$147,292	$70.81	1,651
   16	Neuberger Berman	$145,245	$69.83	6
   17	Fiverr	$143,809	$69.14
   18	Bloomberg	$140,681	$67.64	1
   19	Sanofi US	$138,429	$66.55	67
   20	Shell Trading	$138,178	$66.43	6

4. Writing a business manager job description

   A business manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a business manager job description:

   Business manager job description example

   Rutgers University-Newark, an urban public research university and anchor institution, located in Newark, New Jersey, a city of promise, is seeking a Business Manager III Supervisor for the School of Arts and Sciences-Newark ( SASN ). Reporting to the Assistant Dean for Financial Planning, Dean's Office, School of Arts and Sciences-Newark ( SASN ). The Business Manager III Supervisor provides a variety of business services including budget and financial planning, procurement, accounting, and grant administration to a portfolio of academic departments and programs of the School of Arts and Sciences Newark ( SASN ). Responsible for team of staff covering different departments and programs and all of their activities, ensures all functions performed accurately, thoroughly, within appropriate and relevant deadlines, and in compliance with all applicable policies and processes. The position prepares, reviews and analyzes financial data; forecasts and develops budgets; prepares monthly closings and reports; resolves a diverse range of problems consistent with an understanding of mission, vision, role and goals of the SASN and consistent with a comprehensive understanding of accounting in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ( GAAP ). Must be able to multitask and manage several complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, customer-focused, team environment with an understanding of the mission, vision, role, and goals of the Departments, SASN , and RU-N.
   Minimum Education and Experience
   
   Requires a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience that demonstrates comprehensive knowledge and understanding of general accounting principles and practices; Also requires a minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in a financial/accounting function, excellent communication skills, and computer literacy.
   
   Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
   
   Ability to establish and maintain continually evolving relationships with a variety of individuals, coordinating multiple activities; Competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, fiscal management, and financial reports; Knowledge of generally accepted accounting, fiscal, and reporting principles; Establish and maintain effective working relationships; Take initiative and independently, plan, organize, coordinate, and perform work in various situations where numerous and diverse demands are involved; Analyze data, information, and objectives; identify patterns, concerns, issues, problems, needs, tendencies and relationships; formulate logical and objective conclusions; recognize alternatives and their implications; and make sound decisions or recommendations; Anticipate problems and to address them proactively; Must be able to multitask and manage several complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, customer-focused, team environment.
   
   Overview
   
   The School of Arts and Sciences-Newark ( SASN ) is a place where exploration, discovery, and imagination come together to form the core of a liberal arts education. We serve all undergraduates at Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N); and offer a broad selection of more than 2,000 undergraduate and graduate courses a year in more than 40 subjects. SASN combines the best of a large research university with a small liberal arts college. RU-N is a remarkably diverse, urban, public research university that is not just in Newark but of Newark-an anchor of our home city.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right business 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 manager job on Zippia to find and recruit business manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit business managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect business manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new business manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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.)

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