Small business owners do nearly every job in the company: sales, service, bookkeeping, hiring, ordering, marketing, and cleaning up at the end of the day. Whether you ran a restaurant, a salon, a cleaning service, a retail shop, or a daycare, you built skills that transfer to many jobs. This example is for owners moving back into employment, whether for steadier income, benefits, or a new chapter.
What employers want to see
Employers value owners' drive, independence, and business sense. They also want reassurance that you'll be a committed team member, not someone who will leave once a new business idea comes along. Your resume should show concrete results from your business and a clear interest in the job you're applying for. Tailor it: for management jobs, lead with leadership and money results. For hands-on jobs, lead with the work itself.
Resume summary
Hands-on small business owner experienced in running every part of a business: serving customers, managing money, hiring and leading staff, and solving problems as they come. Brings the drive of an owner and the dependability of someone used to being accountable for results. Looking to bring that experience to a new role.
Skills to list
- Customer service and relationships
- Budgeting and cash flow
- Bookkeeping and invoicing
- Hiring, training, and scheduling staff
- Vendor and supplier management
- Sales and marketing
- Inventory and ordering
- Pricing and quotes
- Licenses, permits, and compliance
- Problem-solving and decision-making
Experience bullet points
- Started and ran a small business, handling sales, service, operations, and finances
- Built a loyal customer base through strong service and word-of-mouth referrals
- Managed the budget, cash flow, and bookkeeping, and kept records ready for tax filing
- Hired, trained, and scheduled employees and set clear standards for their work
- Negotiated with suppliers and vendors to control costs
- Created marketing through social media, local partnerships, and community events
- Tracked inventory and placed orders to keep products in stock without overbuying
- Set prices and wrote quotes that kept the business competitive and profitable
- Kept business licenses, permits, and insurance current
- Solved customer, staffing, and supply problems quickly and independently
Sample entry
Owner, Neighborhood Bakery, Birmingham, AL. 2017 to 2025. Built a bakery to about $320,000 in yearly sales with a staff of 5; kept food cost under 30%; grew wholesale accounts with 6 local coffee shops; passed every health inspection; sold the business in 2025.
Tips for this role
- Choose results that match the job. Applying for a manager role? Lead with staff, budgets, and sales. Applying for a bookkeeping role? Lead with your financial work.
- Mention a sale or closure only if it helps. "Sold the business" is a positive line. If it closed, just use accurate end dates.
- Show you can work with others. Mention partners, vendors, key clients, and staff you led, so employers see you collaborate well.
- Prepare your references. Long-time customers, vendors, and former employees can vouch for you in place of a former boss.
Build your resume free
Open the 360 Quick Resume builder, choose Self-Employed & Business Owners, then pick Small Business Owner. This summary, skills list, and these bullet points load in for you to edit. Download as PDF, Word, or plain text, free.
For more help, read our full guide on how to put self-employment on a resume, including titles, references, and answering employer concerns.