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Business owner/operator 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/operator skills. We ranked the top skills for business owner/operators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 36.2% of business owner/operator resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a business owner/operator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 business owner/operator 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 owner/operators use customer service:

Marketed variety of business items and provided exceptional customer services to consumers, regularly direct email and phone contact.
Dedicated Cell phone Sales Professional with demonstrated success in retail management, product presentation, and customer service relations.

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 owner/operators use payroll:

Generated sales, serviced customers, supervised operations, processed payroll and accounts payable/receivable, prepared taxes and financial reports.
Calculated and distributed payroll, monitored costs, and compiled and submitted financial reports as necessary.

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 owner/operators use financial statements:

Budget and generate monthly financial statements to monitor labor costs and increase productivity using QuickBooks.
Performed and reported all financial statements and yearly comparative information.

4. Residential Properties

Any space you can use as a flat, house, or residential area is called a residential property. These can include public property, private property, and cooperative property.

Here's how business owner/operators use residential properties:

Operated family business overseeing the acquisition, repair, and resale of repossessed residential properties throughout New Mexico.
Performed preventative maintenance for commercial and residential properties.

5. 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 owner/operators use business operations:

Managed business operations of residential and commercial excavation projects, requiring good business communication skills towards customers; developed contract bids.
Perform all business operations, executive management, grant procurement and compliance and financial record keeping functions.

6. 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 owner/operators use windows:

Installed and operating Windows system software utilizing Virtual Box.
Installed doors, windows, siding, showers, vanities toilets, ceramic and laminate flooring, cabinets and trim.

7. Business Plan

Here's how business owner/operators use business plan:

Submitted yearly revised business plan to Navajo Parks and Recreation, Revised business strategies quarterly according to profits.
Cross referenced with overall industry trends and adjusted business plans and strategies accordingly.

8. Inventory Control

Here's how business owner/operators use inventory control:

Maintain materials inventory control and just-in-time materials procurement.
Maintained inventory control by utilizing QuickBooks Point-of-Sale.

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 owner/operators use human resources:

Managed retail sales, marketing, promotions, human resources, and accounting practices.
Coordinated all functions for store's operation, Business Development and Human Resources.

10. Customer Relations

Here's how business owner/operators use customer relations:

Time management creating and marketing crafts - Money management -Customer relations -Marketing -Creative and attractive sales display
Create clientele, customer relations Documenting and reporting income/expenses Maintaining yearly budgets and income prospects

11. 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 owner/operators use business management:

Perform lawn care and maintenance for customers* Business marketing and advertising* Business management, scheduling, and inventory
Project Management Training, Housing Development, Maintenance & Business Process Consulting, Business Management

12. 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 owner/operators use real estate:

Interfaced with property owners, attorneys, independent related business and other real estate professionals to successfully progress transactions.
Formulated equipment and fixture budgets; negotiated machine and supply contracts, and real estate and capital equipment leases.

13. QuickBooks

Here's how business owner/operators use quickbooks:

Utilized QuickBooks and other programs that the customer used in their business to record, store, and analyze information.
Performed account payable and receivable services by use of QuickBooks Financial.

14. Mowing

Here's how business owner/operators use mowing:

Maintained 175+ residential and commercial accounts for weed control and 25+ commercial and residential accounts for mowing.
Garden design, Weeding, Planting, Pruning, Trimming of hedges, Mulching, Mowing, Patioinstallation and Housekeeping.

15. 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 owner/operators use business development:

Support business development activities with the ability to identify opportunities within the energy market.
Spearheaded purchase negotiations, construction, business development, management and community relations.

What skills help Business Owner/Operators 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/operator 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 owner/operators 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 owner/operators?

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/operator 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 owner/operators 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/operator skills to add to your resume

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

Customer Service
Payroll
Financial Statements
Residential Properties
Business Operations
Windows
Business Plan
Inventory Control
Human Resources
Customer Relations
Business Management

Real Estate
QuickBooks
Mowing
Business Development
Event Planning
Lawn Care
Retail Sales
Equipment Maintenance
Inventory Management
Trade Shows
A/P

Business Cards
Client Relations
LLC
Sales Tax
Bank Deposits
Retail Store
Gross Revenue
Retail Business
Tax Preparation

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

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