You're eager to grow your small business and know that the right job opportunity can be a game changer. But as you sift through application requirements, you hit a common snag: crafting a compelling cover letter. It's not just about rehashing your resume. Your cover letter should narrate your top professional triumph, capturing your unique story without falling into overused phrases. Moreover, you need to pack a punch in just one page. Let's navigate these waters together and create a cover letter that stands out.
- Including all the must-have paragraphs in your structure for an excellent first impression;
- Learning how to write individual sections from industry-leading cover letter examples;
- Selecting the best accomplishment to tell an interesting and authority-building professional story;
- Introducing your profile with personality, while meeting industry standards.
And, if you want to save some time, drag and drop your small business owner resume into Enhancv's AI, which will assess your profile and write your job-winning cover letter for you.
If the small business owner isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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Small Business Owner cover letter example
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- Highlighting specific, measurable achievements such as a "35% revenue increase" directly relates past successes to potential future contributions and showcases the ability to drive business growth.
- Emphasizing hands-on experience ("Small Business Owner") establishes credibility and an understanding of business operations, which is critical for roles that require strategic decision-making and leadership.
- Demonstrating familiarity with the company ("I have thoroughly researched your company's innovative approach") shows genuine interest and implies that the candidate has a proactive attitude and does their due diligence.
- Mentioning key skills like "market analysis" and "project management" aligns the applicant's qualities with the job requirements, making it clear why they are a suitable match for the position.
The format of your small business owner cover letter: structure, fonts, margins, and more
Your small business owner cover letter should include a header (with your name, position, and date); a greeting and introductory paragraph; a body and closing paragraphs; and an optional signature.
Remember that you're writing your small business owner cover letter for recruiters - as the Applicant Tracker System won't scan this content.
Here are a few more tips and tricks to keep in mind when formatting your small business owner cover letter:
- Use the same font in your small business owner cover letter and resume. We recommend modern fonts, e.g. Lato and Rubik, to help you stand out, instead of the stereotypical Arial and Times New Roman.
- Each paragraph should have single spacing, which is already set up for you in our cover letter templates.
- Our cover letter builder follows industry standards for your small business owner cover letter formatting - with a one-inch margin, surrounding your content.
- Always export your small business owner cover letter in PDF to ensure the image or text quality stays the same and your writing isn't moved about.
The top sections on a small business owner cover letter
- Header: This section includes your contact information and the date, ensuring the recruiter knows who you are and how to reach you, which is fundamental in networking to grow a small business.
- Salutation/Greeting: Personalize this section with the recruiter's name, if known, to demonstrate attention to detail and interpersonal skills, which are crucial for a small business owner.
- Introduction: Briefly describe your entrepreneurial passion and the type of business you run; this provides context about your small business experience and sets the tone for the letter.
- Body of the Letter: Focus on your accomplishments managing and growing your business, your leadership abilities, financial acumen, and any unique industry insights, showing that you possess the skills necessary to operate and sustain a small enterprise.
- Closing and Call to Action: Finish by reiterating your interest in the opportunity, thanking the recruiter for their time, and suggesting a meeting or follow-up, showcasing your proactive approach—a must-have trait for effective business owners.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Entrepreneurial Spirit: Small business owners need to display a strong entrepreneurial spirit, showing their willingness to take risks and innovate to drive the business forward.
- Financial Acumen: Demonstrating an understanding of budget management, financial planning, and profitability is crucial to responsibly maintain and grow a small business.
- Adaptability and Flexibility: Small business owners must be able to adapt to changing market conditions, customer needs, and be flexible in their approach to business strategy and operations.
- Leadership and Team Management: A track record of effective team leadership and the ability to manage, inspire, and motivate a small workforce are vital for driving a successful business.
- Industry Expertise: Possessing in-depth knowledge of the industry within which the business operates, including trends, challenges, and opportunities specific to that sector.
- Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to identify challenges quickly and apply practical problem-solving skills to overcome obstacles is essential for a small business owner.
How to personalize your small business owner cover letter greeting
Before you start writing your small business owner cover letter, take the time to find out who is recruiting for the role.
Search for the recruiter's name on LinkedIn or the corporate website to address them personally in your small business owner cover letter salutation.
What if you can't find out who's recruiting for the role?
Always aim to avoid the very impersonal "Dear Sir/Madam" - instead, opt out for "Dear HR Team" or "Dear Hiring Manager" to make a better first impression.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear [Recipient's Name],
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Department Name] Team,
- Dear [Company Name] Recruiter,
- Dear [Recipient's Professional Title],
- Dear Selection Committee,
Get creative with your small business owner cover letter introduction
Recruiters are going to assess plenty of candidate profiles for the role. Thus, anything you do to stand out will win you brownie points.
Use your small business owner cover letter introduction to share something memorable about your experience.
But before you go down the rabbit hole of creativity and humor, align your message with the company culture.
For example, if you are applying for a role in some startup, use those first two sentences to tell a funny story (about your experience) to quickly connect with the recruiter.
Structuring your small business owner cover letter body to add more value
You've hinted at your value as a professional (this may be your passion for the job or interest in the company) in your introduction.
Next, it's time to pan out the body or middle of your small business owner cover letter.
When creating your resume, you've probably gone over the advert a million times to select the most relevant skills.
Well, it's time to repeat this activity. Or just copy and paste your previous list of job-crucial requirements.
Then, select one of your past accomplishments, which is relevant and would impress hiring managers.
Write between three and six paragraphs to focus on the value your professional achievement would bring to your potential, new organization.
Tell a story around your success that ultimately shows off your real value as a professional.
A sincere and original way to end your small business owner cover letter
When writing their small business owner cover letter, candidates tend to use one of these phrases, "Sincerely yours" or "I look forward to hearing from you".
Both statements show good manners, but your cover letter should end in a more actionable manner.
Write about:
- how you see yourself growing in the role/organization;
- the benefits you would bring about (you'd impress even more with tangible metrics);
- the next steps in the process (provide your availability for interviews).
Addressing limited to no experience in the small business owner cover letter
There's nothing to worry about if you lack professional experience.
Your small business owner cover letter could bridge the gaps in your professional history by focusing on what matters most to recruiters, that's either:
- skills - focusing on transferable ones you've gained, thanks to your life experience (e.g. volunteering, certificates, etc.);
- achievements - select the most relevant and noteworthy one from your history (e.g. education, projects, etc.);
- motivation - describe how you envision your professional growth in the next up to five years, thanks to this opportunity.
Key takeaways
Turning your small business owner cover letter into a success is all about staying authentic to yourself and relevant to the job:
- Be creative with your small business owner cover letter introduction by stating something you enjoy about the company (that is genuine) or about your skill set (to get the recruiters' interested);
- Use single spacing and have a one-inch margin wrapping all around the content of your small business owner cover letter;
- Select just one past achievement from your career or life to tell a story of how you've obtained job-crucial skills and how they'd be beneficial to the role;
- The finishing paragraph of your small business owner cover letter doesn't necessarily have to be a signature but could be a promise of what you plan to achieve in the role;
- Instead of focusing on your lack of experience, spotlight your transferable skills, one relevant achievement, and career dreams.
