How To Become A Co-Owner/Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a co-owner/operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Robin Jarvis

The responsibility of an operator is to convey and supply products and services for the organization utilizing their vehicles and trucks. Also, your job includes ensuring prompt delivery of goods, checking the amount and quality of the shipments, and following appropriate paths. You must also examine the vehicle state, pinpoint any issues, and carry out immediate repairs or replacements of parts. This is done to avoid hold-up during delivery. As an operator, you must have perfect driving records and comply with road safety policies. Additionally, you have to oversee the safe loading and unloading of products and informing dispatch of any spoiled cargo. You need to keep a record book with a precise account of the hours operated, rest sessions, and distance covered. Essentially, you need to technically plan travel paths and evaluate dispatchers' directives before deliveries to avoid any mistakes.

You only need a GED or high school diploma to qualify for this job. Furthermore, you must have a verified driver's license as well as some experience in the field. As an operator, you have to display great time-management, problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills. Also, you must be able to focus for long periods and be able to maximally utilize GPS systems or related software. You will earn an average of $31,254 annually or $15.03 hourly.

What general advice would you give to a co-owner/operator?

Robin Jarvis

Director of Career and Internship Services, Culver-Stockton College

Be flexible. Employment trends were shifting and changing, before the pandemic hit, and we can expect more change in the days ahead. Opportunities are still out there, and we will recover from these challenges. I anticipate growth after stabilization and the creation of jobs that don't exist today. Be willing to take the skills you learned in college and apply them to a wide array of opportunities. Explore careers outside your area of study, and never stop learning. Most important - network, network, network!

ScoreCo-Owner/OperatorUS Average

Salary

2.5

Avg. Salary $32,256

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%

Asian 6.37%

Black or African American 6.18%

Hispanic or Latino 15.03%

Unknown 4.34%

White 67.61%

Gender

female 41.56%

male 58.44%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.2

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a co-owner/operator

Explore co-owner/operator education requirements

Most common co-owner/operator degrees

Bachelor's

59.9 %

Associate

16.5 %

High School Diploma

10.5 %

Start to develop specific co-owner/operator skills

Skills	Percentages
Co-Op	35.00%
Patients	9.69%
Data Analysis	6.74%
PowerPoint	5.97%
Python	4.26%

Complete relevant co-owner/operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New co-owner/operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a co-owner/operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real co-owner/operator resumes.

Gain additional co-owner/operator certifications

Co-owner/operator certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific co-owner/operator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for co-owner/operators include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA).

More About Certifications

Research co-owner/operator duties and responsibilities

Manage shipping and warehousing for the entire U.S., as well as A/R & A/P.
Manage end to end business operations including hiring, scheduling visits, conducting customer consultations and performing pet visits.
Perform renovations and finishing work, roof work, windows, siding and much more.
Developed/Maintain Facebook page for marketing/advertising.

Apply for co-owner/operator jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a co-owner/operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do co-owner/operators rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

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2 stars

1 star

Co-owner/operator reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020

Pros

Meeting achieving and surpassing any goals needed to catipult a company that I can stand behind.

Cons

Lazy Phonies

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019