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What does a business owner do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
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.

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Business owner responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real business owner resumes:

  • 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.
  • Design all listings and banner ads using Photoshop.
  • Supply, design, and run all jobs from start to finish.
  • Blacked LLC is a fashion forward lifestyle brand focusing on quality apparel and lifestyle accessories
  • Acquire CDL license and begin hauling all types of different material from masonry sand to crush granite.
  • General home repairs and remodels; electrical, plumbing, dry wall, painting, and lawn mowing.
  • Provide services to companies for their new product introductions, windows' displays, special activities, anniversaries, etc.
  • Identify and plan the key SEO requirements for the software product to optimize syndication delivery across multiple consumer brand websites.
  • Provide full range of mowing, trimming, spraying, including design and installation of beds, plants and irrigation systems.
  • Facilitate all travel arrangements and convention center logistics.

Business owner skills and personality traits

We calculated that 31% of Business Owners are proficient in Customer Service, Payroll, and Financial Statements. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Leadership skills, and Management skills.

We break down the percentage of Business Owners that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 31%

    Developed business plans and employee manuals with an emphasis on manufacturing, packaging and communication systems that provide exceptional customer service.

  • Payroll, 12%

    Reconciled monthly activity, generated year-end reports, and fulfilled tax related requirements administered payroll and employee benefits and organizational insurance.

  • Financial Statements, 9%

    Performed monthly bookkeeping, cost reporting, budgeting and prepared financial statements for various non-profit organizations.

  • Business Plan, 7%

    Developed and implemented business plan and infrastructure including construction and financial forecasting in opening a full service bistro in Manhattan.

  • Business Model, 3%

    Developed a business model and implemented this model by carrying out daily strategic, operational and administrative tasks.

  • Real Estate, 2%

    Managed family owned real estate portfolio in which responsibilities including budget management, marketing, troubleshooting, customer interaction and scheduling.

"customer service," "payroll," and "financial statements" are among the most common skills that business owners use at work. You can find even more business owner responsibilities below, including:

Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a business owner to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "top executives must be able to convey information clearly and persuasively." Business owners often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "opened own retail business selling telecommunications solutions for consumers and local businesses. "

Leadership skills. Many business owner duties rely on leadership skills. "top executives must be able to shape and direct an organization by coordinating policies, people, and resources.," so a business owner will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways business owner responsibilities rely on leadership skills: "owned e-commerce retail business that trained individuals to become financially free leadership"

Problem-solving skills. For certain business owner responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a business owner rely on this skill, as "top executives need to identify and resolve issues within an organization." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what business owners do: "implement technology solutions for local businesses support and maintain network infrastructures design network and business solutions. "

Time-management skills. A commonly-found skill in business owner job descriptions, "time-management skills" is essential to what business owners do. Business owner responsibilities rely on this skill because "top executives do many tasks concurrently to ensure that their work gets done and that the organization meets its goals." You can also see how business owner duties rely on time-management skills in this resume example: "contracted cleaning for new construction prepared and submitted bids to building contractors scheduled crews to meet deadlines managed payroll and receivable"

All business owner skills

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Compare different business owners

Business owner vs. General manager/partner

A general manager/partner of any organization has many roles to perform. Depending on the industry they work in, they may be in charge of the management of operations, logistics, or maintenance. They also create an overall budget for every project. They are required to monitor budgets and payroll records and to review financial transactions.

The annual salary of general managers/partner is $34,127 higher than the average salary of business owners.Even though business owners and general managers/partner are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require customer service, payroll, and financial statements in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a business owner are more likely to require skills like "business model," "windows," "business management," and "graphic design." On the other hand, a job as a general manager/partner requires skills like "pos," "food quality," "sales growth," and "cash flow." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

The education levels that general managers/partner earn slightly differ from business owners. In particular, general managers/partner are 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a business owner. Additionally, they're 2.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Business owner vs. Entrepreneur

An entrepreneur is a business owner who regularly creates new ventures and sells them with the end goal of turning them into profit. To start up a new business, entrepreneurs must create business plans and acquire resources and financing while hiring talented individuals. They play a vital role in the economy because they are the driver of economic growth and innovation. They also make use of their business as a means of creating a sustainable living, which improves the quality of life.

Entrepreneur positions earn higher pay than business owner roles. They earn a $19,915 higher salary than business owners per year.A few skills overlap for business owners and entrepreneurs. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "payroll," "financial statements," and "business plan. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, business owner responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "financial management," "photoshop," and "client relations." Meanwhile, an entrepreneur has duties that require skills in areas such as "kids," "product development," "roi," and "entrepreneurship." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Entrepreneurs may earn a higher salary than business owners, but entrepreneurs earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $74,554. On the other hand, business owners receive higher pay in the retail industry, where they earn an average salary of $63,316.entrepreneurs earn similar levels of education than business owners in general. They're 2.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Business owner vs. Co-owner/operator

A co-owner/operator is responsible for delivering goods and services for the companies using their trucks and vehicles. Co-owner/operators ensure timely merchandise deliveries, check the quantity and quality of the cargo, and follow routes accordingly. They also inspect vehicle conditions, identify any inconsistencies, and perform troubleshooting for malfunction for immediate repair or replacement of components to prevent deliveries delays. A co-owner/operator must have clean driving records, adhering to the road's safety regulations.

On average scale, co-owner/operators bring in lower salaries than business owners. In fact, they earn a $18,678 lower salary per year.By looking over several business owners and co-owner/operators resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "financial statements," "business plan," and "windows." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, business owners are more likely to have skills like "customer service," "payroll," "business model," and "real estate." But a co-owner/operator is more likely to have skills like "co-op," "patients," "data analysis," and "powerpoint."

Co-owner/operators earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $49,760. Comparatively, business owners have the highest earning potential in the retail industry, with an average salary of $63,316.co-owner/operators typically earn similar educational levels compared to business owners. Specifically, they're 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Business owner vs. Manager/partner

A manager/partner or managing partner is an individual who manages the daily activities of a company as well as guides its overall strategic business direction. Managing partners must cooperate with other executives, board members, and employees to implement organizational goals, procedures, and policies. They are responsible for the hiring and managing of employees and should follow the executive committee guidelines and federal and state laws and regulations. Managing partners must also maintain positive client relationships and lead the drive for new business acquisitions.

Managers/partner tend to earn a higher pay than business owners by an average of $44,448 per year.According to resumes from business owners and managers/partner, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "customer service," "payroll," and "financial statements. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "business model," "business management," "financial management," and "graphic design" are skills that commonly show up on business owner resumes. On the other hand, managers/partner use skills like project management, client facing, account management, and partner relationships on their resumes.In general, managers/partner hold similar degree levels compared to business owners. Managers/partner are 4.3% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of business owner

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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.

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