7 Business Owner Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

As a business owner, you've mastered the art of juggling tasks with the skill of a circus performer. But even the most adept performers might seek a steadier stage after mastering the high-wire act of entrepreneurship. With about 23% of small businesses folding in their first year, the allure of a predictable workweek, steady income, and wearing fewer hats—unless they're part of the dress code—is understandably appealing.

The retirement of baby boomers is creating opportunities in small to mid-sized businesses, ideal for seasoned professionals and new entrepreneurs. In fields like tech and finance, highlighting your entrepreneurial experience in your resume can set you apart. This guide offers tips to seamlessly connect your past achievements with future goals, ensuring your skills shine in any setting.

Let's explore an actual resume sample.

Business owner resume sample

Use Hazel’s resume as a template for your own. It can serve as both transitioning from a business owner role to regular employment or the other way around. Or, use the Enhancv builder to create one from scratch. We promise it only takes minutes!

Having seen a resume example, let’s break down the formatting that’ll get you the best results.

How to format a business owner resume

The right format for someone on the career change path is the hybrid resume. Giving equal weight to your skills and experience, this format shows the transferable abilities that will be relevant to your new position.

Top sections on a resume

Your first logical step is establishing which resume sections you’ll include. Here are our suggestions:

• Professional summary
• Skills and qualifications
• Professional experience
• Education, certifications, or licenses
• Additional sections that tell more about your personal story

We’ve addressed each one below.

Resume designs

• Concise is best, so in most cases, the one-page resume is enough to tell your work story. However, if you have over 10 years of experience, you can opt for two pages.
• Keep a professional outlook by placing a 1” margin on each side.
• A two-column design will provide enough space for your endeavors and is an HR favorite.
• Maintain your business outlook by adding subtle colors like dark green, blue, or gray. Pair this with an easy-to-read font, like Rubik.
• Resume lines are an elegant way to separate different sections.

Contact information

• Put the essential contact information, such as name, job title, and email, on your resume header.
• A photo can cause unnecessary bias, so generally go without. Still, check with your specific job posting requirements.

File formatting

• A PDF secures all elements of your resume layout in place.
• Use a clear naming convention, like FirstName_LastName_JobTitle_Resume.

Got a resume? Try the Enhancv resume checker to see its score!

After choosing your resume format, the next step is detailing your professional experience to showcase your career progression.

How to write your business owner resume experience

Your experience section will be different depending on whether you’re applying to take on someone else’s business, or you’re returning to the workforce after developing your own. You can leverage your abilities regardless of the field you’re applying in. Here are some general tips you can follow:

• Outline any previous professional roles, including your accomplishments and how these experiences prepared you for business ownership.
• Describe the vision and core focus of your own business, detailing how you've developed and executed its unique value proposition.
• Present measurable successes and significant achievements from your business that demonstrate your capability to drive results.
• Mention any experiences where you've effectively taken on leadership roles in businesses without successors, emphasizing your adaptability and strategic foresight.
• Highlight technical skills relevant to business management, such as proficiency with financial software, CRM systems, or other specialized tools.
• Provide examples of your soft skills, such as communication, leadership, and problem-solving, illustrating how these have been essential in managing your business and will be valuable in new roles.

A business owner job description can be a position in management, business development, or business consulting. Take a look at this real job posting:

Create a targeted resume

Let’s face it—even if you’re Jeff Bezos, you were once a beginner. So, you have some knowledge of what it means to be a small business owner—even if the business was establishing yourself as a professional. Apply your know-how by targeting the specific job posting with your resume. Try to find parallels that will make recruiters see you as a great fit.

A winning strategy in a targeted resume is using keywords from the job posting, and action verbs to make a strong impression.

Here’s an experience section tailored to the job ad above:

It’s effective because:

• Highlights leading comprehensive assessments and strategic improvements, meeting the job's need for thorough client operation evaluations.
• Describes developing and executing strategies that boost client revenue, showcasing strategic planning skills essential for the role.
• Notes management of multiple projects and high client retention rates, demonstrating key project management abilities and client relationship skills.

To make your experience stand out, learn how to quantify your achievements and impact in this next section.

How to quantify your experience on а resume

Quantifying your experience on your resume is essential as a business owner. Focusing on results attracts potential clients. By showing measurable achievements, like boosting sales or cutting costs, you clearly demonstrate your impact. This proves your skills and builds your credibility with potential clients or investors.

Consider these examples an inspiration for your resume:

Understanding both hard and soft skills is crucial, so let's explore how to integrate these into your resume.

Business owner skills on your resume

As a future or ex-business owner, your ability to manage client relationships and adapt to new challenges is vital. The skills section of your resume should highlight your industry-specific skills, like different software. Tailor this section according to the job ad you’re interested in. Make sure you don’t exaggerate, as these capabilities can be easily measured and tested. Here’s what you can add:

We mentioned soft skills are best illustrated with examples throughout your experience and summary sections. These skills are what drive most of your success as both an employer and an employee. So, think about which ones best present your character.

Now that we've covered skills, we'll transition to discussing your educational background and any certifications you've acquired.

How to list your certifications and education on your resume

Your education section is still relevant even if you have lots and lots of experience. It shows recruiters you’re dedicated and organized and provides theoretical knowledge you build your experience on.

When detailing this section for a business owner transitioning to another role:

• Include your educational institution to underscore credibility and convey professionalism.
• State the year you completed your degree to offer context regarding the timing of your education. Omit the month for simplicity.
• Underline relevant coursework or certifications pertinent to the new role, emphasizing skills and knowledge that align with your career shift.
• Feature any academic or professional honors such as leadership awards, business competitions won, or scholarships that demonstrate your competence and dedication.

Here’s an education entry tailored to the job posting above:

Here’s what makes it work:

• Relevant degrees (MBA and Bachelor of Science in Finance) from prestigious institutions (Harvard Business School and The Wharton School).
• Quantitative display of academic excellence with GPAs clearly mentioned.
• Well-regarded academic institutions like Harvard Business School and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania lend credibility and align with the high level of professionalism expected for the position.

Dedicating a section to certifications on your resume provides a swift and effective way to demonstrate to potential employers your commitment to exceeding the foundational qualifications. Take your pick from our suggestions:

After detailing your education and certifications, we'll focus on crafting a compelling resume summary that captures your unique value.

How to write your business owner resume summary

When recruiters initially scan your resume, the career statement will capture their attention. As a transitioning small business owner, your resume summary should effectively display your diverse skill set.

• Include 3 – 5 sentences that summarize your top qualifications and unique qualities.
• Use active voice and strategic keywords related to your new role.
• Highlight measurable achievements from your business experience that demonstrate your impact.
• Mention any additional training or certifications you’ve pursued that align with your new career path.
• Conclude by emphasizing how your extensive experience as a business owner can bring value to the prospective company.

Here’s a summary targeting the job ad above:

It effectively highlights the candidate's extensive experience and specialized skills, directly aligning with the job's requirements for a Small Business Consultant. It underscores their proven ability to optimize business operations, signaling a strong match with the strategic and operational demands of the role.

With your resume's core components in place, let’s consider adding additional sections that can further enhance your marketability.

Additional sections for a business owner resume

When transitioning to a new role, adding optional sections to your resume can spotlight unique skills and experiences that align with the job's requirements. Thus, you showcase your versatility and ability to expand beyond typical job duties.

Here are some effective optional sections to consider:

• Highlight specific projects that are relevant to the new role, showing your hands-on experience and problem-solving skills.
• List memberships in professional organizations to show your active engagement and network in the industry.
• Include volunteer positions that have given you experience relevant to the new role, underscoring your commitment to community and transferable skills.
• Mention any language skills you have that can help you work in multinational environments.

In conclusion

Our guide helps business owners who are transitioning to the role of an employee, emphasizing the importance of tailoring their resumes to underline transferable skills and relevant experiences. It suggests focusing on achievements and clearly demonstrating leadership and problem-solving abilities.