

Although it may conjure memories of middle school detention, principal is a common small business owner title, particularly for owners of small agencies or consulting businesses. If you’re looking for something a little more official than owner but you don’t feel up to the level of CEO, you might consider the title of principal.

Keep in mind that a founder is defined as the person who originated or started the business, so it’s not an appropriate fit if you purchased an existing business or bought shares in an established company. Calling yourself a founder conveys to your earliest employees that you intend to take a bootstrapping approach to your growth and be highly involved in the day-to-day work-all of which can improve the camaraderie and teamwork between you and your staff. In recent years, the title founder has gained popularity within businesses-particularly in the tech industry-that start small and very hands-on, but have fast growth trajectories. Proprietor is an older term used to describe the owner of a small business, and is particularly common within small, main-street style retail businesses. If you feel that your role in your small business fits the definition of owner, but that term doesn’t feel quite right, there’s a second option. Owner has less gravitas than either president or CEO, but this might work well if you’re the operator of a very small business, such as an LLC or sole proprietorship, with few to no employees. Ownerįor small businesses owners who haven’t filed organizational documents as a partnership or corporation, the title of owner is a straightforward way to denote who holds financial ownership of your company.

When choosing between president and CEO, consider your legal business entity, as well as how you want to structure the titles of additional hires as your company grows. Again, this title conveys authority, so it’s an option worth considering if your goal is to give your business the gravitas of a more established firm. Many people consider “president” to be interchangeable with CEO. If you want to convey that your company is well-established or has a large team of employees, CEO might be the right title for you.Ĭonversely, if you’re a solopreneur, the term CEO might give off a stuffy air that doesn’t accurately describe your business, or your role within it. CEOĬhief executive officer, or CEO, is a common title in the business world and will leave no one in doubt that you’re in charge of your company. You’ll quickly know which ones feel right and which ones simply aren’t a fit. See if a few of these titles suit your style, and then take a practice run at a networking event by introducing yourself using those titles. But after surveying small business owners in a variety of industries, we were able to gather some of the most common business owner titles. You have so many choices when it comes to job titles for small business owners, and we’d be hard pressed to list them all. Now that you know what steps to take as you choose your job title as a small business owner, let’s take a look at some job title potential options. And if not, you’re the boss-create your own! Small Business Owner Titles to Consider Then, you can take a look at our list of both common and creative titles to see if one you like is on that list. We’ve put together some simple steps to follow when deciding what small business owner title is right for you. You’re the owner of your small business, but you also wear many other hats-and your business title should reflect your multifaceted role. When you’re a small business owner trying to choose the right title to fit your position, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the number of choices you have-or to think your only options for business owner titles are “owner” or “CEO.”īusiness titles for small business owners should be consistent with the company’s goals and objectives, but they should also feel personal.
