Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Business owner skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Aldo Musacchio Ph.D.,

Aldo Musacchio Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical business owner skills. We ranked the top skills for business owners based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 30.6% of business owner resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a business owner needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 business owner skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how business owners use customer service:

Developed business plans and employee manuals with an emphasis on manufacturing, packaging and communication systems that provide exceptional customer service.
Dedicated to customer service and highly motivated to maintain customer satisfaction, contributing to the overall success of a business.

2. Payroll

Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

Here's how business owners use payroll:

Reconciled monthly activity, generated year-end reports, and fulfilled tax related requirements administered payroll and employee benefits and organizational insurance.
Maintained all record-keeping for inventory integrity, accurate financial reporting to include payroll, invoicing, account collections and tax reporting.

3. Financial Statements

A financial statement is a report of an individual or a company that includes all the information about the declared assets, the use of money, income, and also the contribution of shareholders over a certain period.

Here's how business owners use financial statements:

Performed monthly bookkeeping, cost reporting, budgeting and prepared financial statements for various non-profit organizations.
Determined marketing strategy changes by reviewing operating and financial statements and all sales records.

4. Business Plan

Here's how business owners use business plan:

Developed and implemented business plan and infrastructure including construction and financial forecasting in opening a full service bistro in Manhattan.
Developed and implemented successful strategic business plans and claims management program for national Third Party Claims Administrator.

5. Business Model

A business model describes the core of a company's profit-making plan. The model states how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value in economic, social, or cultural contexts. It helps define what products or services a company will sell.

Here's how business owners use business model:

Developed a business model and implemented this model by carrying out daily strategic, operational and administrative tasks.
Improved efficiency and effectiveness of business model by keeping detailed and highly organized customer and financial data.

6. Real Estate

Real estate is land that has buildings on it. This kind of property consists of permanent improvements either natural or man-made, which include, houses, fences, bridges, water trees, and minerals. There are 4 types of real estate namely; residential real estate, commercial real estate, industrial real estate, and vacant land.

Here's how business owners use real estate:

Managed family owned real estate portfolio in which responsibilities including budget management, marketing, troubleshooting, customer interaction and scheduling.
Raise capital for acquisition and rehabilitation of below market commercial real estate projects due to mismanagement and market miscalculations.

Choose from 10+ customizable business owner resume templates

Build a professional business owner resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your business owner resume.

7. Windows

Windows is a chain of operating systems that controls a computer and is developed by Microsoft. Every version of Windows consists of GUI (graphical user interface), with a desktop that allows the user to open their files.

Here's how business owners use windows:

Managed business accounts in relation to Windows computer repair and networking.
Utilized computer for accounting/sales system using Windows Vending and Microsoft Word.

8. Business Operations

The operations that carry out the inner working of an organization are called business operations. From creating products, to marketing them, business operations play a vital role in every step.

Here's how business owners use business operations:

Provided high-level operational support, implementing corrections to operational code baseline allowing for increased productivity and continuity in business operations.
Managed all aspects of daily business operations, including overseeing high-performance team in driving sales, marketing and accounting/financial activities.

9. Human Resources

Human resources is a set of people in a business or a corporation that are designated to locate, interview, and recruit new employees into the company. They are also responsible to maintain the integrity of the employees and help them sort their problems out. They try to introduce and manage employee-benefit programs.

Here's how business owners use human resources:

Secured meetings with business owners and human resources and benefits executives to offer supplemental benefits to employees.
Managed all internal employee operations including payroll and human resources.

10. Business Development

Business development is the ideas or initiatives that work to make business work better. Selling, advertising, product development, supply chain management, and vendor management are only a few of the divisions involved with it. There is still a lot of networking, negotiating, forming alliances, and trying to save money. The goals set for business development guide and coordinate with all of these various operations and sectors.

Here's how business owners use business development:

Directed all operations, drove business development, and managed customer service, coordinated sub-contractors to deliver projects on-time and on-budget.
Owned and operated national court reporting firm and doubled revenues annually from business development efforts with attorneys and corporate counsel.

11. Inventory Control

Here's how business owners use inventory control:

Converted manual bookkeeping process to industry-specific point-of-sale, inventory control, and accounting computer systems.
Initiated improved inventory control procedures resulting in better inventory turns and lower returns.

12. Customer Relations

Here's how business owners use customer relations:

Developed customer relationships resulting in distributing multiple products to repeat customers and turning a high frequency of positive feedback.
Managed daily operations of customer scheduling of both studio and location shoots, customer relations, and marketing/promotions.

13. Business Management

Business management refers to a subject where coordination of all spheres of an organization's operations by planning comes into existence. It majorly concerns with issues about income and other factors such as the profitability of the business.

Here's how business owners use business management:

Directed all aspects of business management including marketing, networking and outreach, and production of written preservation and construction documents.
Stressed efficiency in business management, tracking scheduling and compliance, accounts payable/receivable, and documentation for patients and insurance companies.

14. Financial Management

Here's how business owners use financial management:

Staff supervision and development, quality control and improvement, marketing and financial management.
Supervised all aspects of financial management, including analysis.

15. QuickBooks

Here's how business owners use quickbooks:

Conducted all accounting operations through QuickBooks, utilizing Microsoft programs to supplement as needed.
Managed finances using QuickBooks, developed advertising using Word and Publisher applications.

5 Business Owner resume examples

Build a professional business owner resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 5+ resume templates to create your business owner resume.

Create my resume

Build a professional resume in minutes using this template.

What skills help Business Owners find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on business owner resumes?

Aldo Musacchio Ph.D.

Professor, Program Director of the MBA, Brandeis University

I think experiences or experiential learning in which they worked in teams with real companies using the hard skills that the market values. Summer internships doing data analytics or business development at a startup stand out. But also working on field projects at your school with a company in which you can display that you used your data analytics or digital marketing skills goes far.

What soft skills should all business owners possess?

Aldo Musacchio Ph.D.

Professor, Program Director of the MBA, Brandeis University

When we talk to employers, they usually tell you they want students who know how to listen and drive. They want someone who is going to be happy to be in the company, who is going to participate actively in meetings and teams, and who is going to be good at listening and the following guidance.

What hard/technical skills are most important for business owners?

Aldo Musacchio Ph.D.

Professor, Program Director of the MBA, Brandeis University

Lately, employers appreciate software skills to manipulate data, like some knowledge of Python or R, and information visualization software like Tableau. Many companies have their databases in SQL format, and having the capacity to work with it is key. Interestingly, digital marketing and social media skills also get a lot of traction as many employers do not know how to keep and manage a presence in social media, especially in Instagram, and may not be as good as students using tools like Google Analytics.

What business owner skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Kim Roberts

Professor of Operations Management, Website

Business professionals lead organizations by focused efforts that revolve around products/services, processes, and people. Business professionals work to ensure the firm's products and/or services meet customer expectations, with an eye toward an ever-changing market. They manage processes that produce or support the firm's products. This requires the ability to analyze data to make informed decisions, to drive continuous improvement, and to solve problems through critical thinking. Successful business professionals must also create climates that promote teamwork and foster collaboration.

What type of skills will young business owners need?

Patrick Scott Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Economics, Louisiana Tech University

I think the importance of critical thinking and reasoning skills cannot be overstated enough. In this area, economics shines. Additionally, analytical and quantitative skills are more important than ever. Businesses continue to make the shift towards data-driven decision making. The ability to quickly analyze data and correctly assign an interpretation or meaning to that data is an important job market skill. With just a little bit of economic intuition, combined data science skills, business economics majors are uniquely positioned for success in the job market of tomorrow.

Do you want to know more?

List of business owner skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a business owner resume and required skills for a business owner to have include:

Customer Service
Payroll
Financial Statements
Business Plan
Business Model
Real Estate
Windows
Business Operations
Human Resources
Business Development
Inventory Control
Customer Relations
Business Management

Financial Management
QuickBooks
Graphic Design
Photoshop
SEO
Facebook
Client Relations
Event Planning
Market Research
Retail Sales
Web Design
Trade Shows
Retail Store

Business Growth
LLC
A/P
Business Relationships
Inventory Management
Accounts Receivables
Business Cards
Local Businesses
Retail Business
EBay
Tax Preparation
Independent Business
Sole Proprietor

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse executive management jobs