Business Owner Resume Example and Template
A business owner's resume needs to read like a set of financial results, since that is what an employer or investor will judge first. Lead with revenue figures, year-over-year growth, and headcount managed, then let the story of what you built follow the numbers.
Whether you are applying for a leadership role or seeking a partner, readers want proof you can run a P&L, not just a passion project. Show margin improvements, customer retention, and any point where you scaled the business beyond what you could do alone.
A complete, realistic Business Owner resume, laid out in an ATS-tested template. The candidate is illustrative: the name, employers and figures were written for this example and identify no real person, so you can copy its structure and wording freely.
Updated September 2026
Also searched as
Owner and Head Baker, Kitchen Manager, Pastry Cook
Carla Jimenez: Business Owner
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Summary
Founder and owner of a bakery and catering business with 13 years of food service and small business management experience in Nashville. Grew annual revenue from $180K to $640K over seven years while maintaining a 28% profit margin, and built a team of 9 employees from a one-person operation.
Work Experience
Owner and Head Baker, Magnolia Crumb Bakery and Catering
May 2019 – Present. Owner-operated bakery and catering business, Nashville
- Founded and grew the business from a home kitchen into a storefront with $640K in annual revenue and 9 employees
- Grew annual revenue from $180K to $640K over seven years while maintaining a 28% profit margin
- Built and manage a catering division that now accounts for 35% of total revenue, serving 60+ events annually
- Hired, trained, and manage a team of 9, handling scheduling, payroll, and vendor relationships directly
Kitchen Manager, Riverside Table Restaurant Group
Mar 2016 – Apr 2019. Full-service restaurant with 120-seat dining room
- Managed daily kitchen operations and a team of 12 cooks and prep staff for a 120-seat restaurant
- Controlled food costs to within 30% of sales through vendor negotiation and waste tracking
- Redesigned prep schedules that cut ticket times by 20% during peak service hours
Pastry Cook, Riverside Table Restaurant Group
Aug 2013 – Feb 2016. Full-service restaurant with 120-seat dining room
- Produced daily pastry and dessert menus for a high-volume restaurant serving 300+ covers nightly
- Trained 3 junior cooks on pastry technique and food safety standards
Education
Nashville State Community College
Associate of Applied Science, Culinary Arts. Sep 2011 – Jun 2013
Skills
Small business ownership and P&L management, Team hiring and leadership, Food cost and inventory control, Catering and event operations, Vendor negotiation, Budgeting and cash flow management, Marketing and customer retention, Menu development, Regulatory and health code compliance, Scheduling and payroll
Languages
English, Spanish
Certificates and Awards
- ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification, National Restaurant Association, 2018
Why this look works
An entrepreneur's resume should feel confident but not showy, the same balance you strike running a small business day to day. A warm, understated layout with your revenue growth called out clearly lets the numbers carry the pitch rather than the design.
Resume tips for this job
- Treat your business like a job you're applying for: lead with revenue, growth rate, and team size instead of a mission statement.
- Include your pre-ownership work history. It shows the operational skills that made you capable of running a business in the first place.
- Quantify what changed under your ownership, like margin, headcount, or a new revenue line you added, not just that you 'ran' the business.
- If you're applying for a role rather than seeking investment, explain briefly why you're returning to employment to avoid raising questions.
Common questions
How do I list my own business without it looking exaggerated?
Use the same specific, verifiable numbers you would use for any other job: revenue, margin, headcount, and growth rate. Concrete figures read as credible; vague claims like 'grew the business' do not.
Should I explain why I'm looking for a job after owning a business?
A single line is enough, such as wanting to apply your operational skills at a larger scale. You don't owe a long explanation, and most hiring managers respect business ownership as strong experience.