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Business owner vs business unit manager

The differences between business owners and business unit managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a business owner and a business unit manager. Additionally, a business unit manager has an average salary of $122,782, which is higher than the $50,934 average annual salary of a business owner.

The top three skills for a business owner include customer service, payroll and financial statements. The most important skills for a business unit manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and product line.

Business owner vs business unit manager overview

Business OwnerBusiness Unit Manager
Yearly salary$50,934$122,782
Hourly rate$24.49$59.03
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs107,663295,151
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4444
Years of experience66

What does a business owner do?

Business owners, also known as Entrepreneurs, are responsible for their company and brand's success. There are many areas of responsibility when you're a business owner, such as in the aspects of planning and budgeting, arranging finances and legal documentation, and even hiring the workforce essential for the business to grow. However, these responsibilities will vary according to how a business owner will uphold them. Moreover, building a business from the ground up requires dedication and a vision and mission for the brand.

What does a business unit manager do?

A business unit manager handles a unit or segment of the company. This unit may be a specialized team on specific projects or a part of a significant production process. The business unit manager ensures that the unit works efficiently and productively by implementing strategies and techniques that will enhance the productive output. A business unit manager also provides suggestions, offers solutions to problems, handles tasks delegation, planning production processes, and training and monitoring of employees in a unit.

Business owner vs business unit manager salary

Business owners and business unit managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Business OwnerBusiness Unit Manager
Average salary$50,934$122,782
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $94,000Between $81,000 And $184,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WAEast Providence, RI
Highest paying stateWashingtonRhode Island
Best paying companyBDCiti
Best paying industryRetailTechnology

Differences between business owner and business unit manager education

There are a few differences between a business owner and a business unit manager in terms of educational background:

Business OwnerBusiness Unit Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Business owner vs business unit manager demographics

Here are the differences between business owners' and business unit managers' demographics:

Business OwnerBusiness Unit Manager
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 51.4% Female, 48.6%Male, 82.8% Female, 17.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between business owner and business unit manager duties and responsibilities

Business owner example responsibilities.

  • Manage the budget and insure operations run smoothly.
  • Create, own and manage a LLC for grind pet transportation.
  • Establish and manage a beading boutique via the Internet by utilizing Photoshop to post designs on a personal website.
  • Manage sales, customer service, billing, A/P, A/R, vendor relations, negotiations, repairs, and maintenance.
  • Manage end to end business operations including hiring, scheduling visits, conducting customer consultations and performing pet visits.
  • Handle all aspects from A/P to A/R, payroll, ordering and dealing with all distributors and city officials.
  • Show more

Business unit manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage capital investment of $250k refurbishment project in RBD department to begin the plant's first TPM program.
  • Manage a portfolio of inpatient and outpatient products market to major academic medical centers, community hospitals and nursing homes.
  • Maintain establishment's monthly bills including payroll, utilities, advertisement, and vending.
  • Review as-is business processes and deploy new processes, roles & responsibilities and KPI's.
  • Calculate and paid all payroll taxes, sales taxes, and alcohol taxes for the business.
  • Develop and implement new business processes, tools, KPI's and scorecards to drive both improvement and adoption.
  • Show more

Business owner vs business unit manager skills

Common business owner skills
  • Customer Service, 31%
  • Payroll, 12%
  • Financial Statements, 9%
  • Business Plan, 7%
  • Business Model, 3%
  • Real Estate, 2%
Common business unit manager skills
  • Continuous Improvement, 11%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Product Line, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 4%
  • Financial Performance, 4%

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