Small Business Manager

Small Business Manager Overview

Small business managers oversee the operation and general administration of small, independent companies. According to the United States Small Business Administration, small businesses are independent firms which employee fewer than 500 people. Small businesses include restaurants, food retail establishments, boutique clothing and shoe stores, music and book shops, companies that provide services such as catering, cleaning, and repair, and any other establishment whose employees number less than 500.

Managers of small businesses may be responsible for meeting sales quotas for the establishment, creating marketing campaigns to attract new business, increasing sales, and networking with other business owners and community leaders. They may additionally be responsible for hiring and training employees, monitoring the accounting and bookkeeping practices for the organization, determining employee salary and benefits, and setting goals for the business. Small business managers must also be aware of federal and local laws which govern their business practices, and must ensure accordance with these regulations with regard to pricing, employee salary, tax filing, and health standards.

Small Business Manager Education and Training

Those who pursue careers as small business managers come from a wide variety of backgrounds. They may choose to obtain associates', bachelors', and/or masters' degrees in business, business administration, economics, or management. Alternately, a business manager may possess a degree with a focus on the specific field in which he or she wishes to work. For example, a manager of a small fashion boutique may have a degree in fashion design or merchandising. The manager of a restaurant may have an education in culinary arts or hospitality management, and may have a work background in cooking or food service.

Many managers of small companies are also the business owners. Since small businesses often require a great deal of attention in the first few years after opening, an owner may choose to also act as the manager in order to supervise the operation of his or her business and reduce salary costs.

Small Business Manager Career and Salary Outlook

The salary for managers of small businesses can vary widely by industry and location. Since many small business managers are often the business owners, they may choose to take only a minimal salary for the first several years after opening the business until the company begins to turn a profit.

According to the White House, small businesses have been responsible for the creation of 70 percent of new jobs in the U.S. over the past decade. In addition, small businesses employ more than half of the workforce in the private sector, per the White House. The outlook for small business managers varies by occupation. However, small businesses are expected to receive an economic boost as the Presidential Administration works to improve small business lending regulations and increase tax breaks for new entrepreneurs.

Small Business

Career specializations for small business managers can vary, depending on the type of business one wishes to manage. There are many different industries in which a small business manager can work.

The retail industry contains many small boutiques, clothing outlets, and other stores, such as independent book and music establishments, which may be considered small businesses. Retail managers are in charge of the staff and daily operations of a retail establishment. They may also be responsible for coming up with ways to attract business and ensuring that the store meets sales quotas.

Restaurants, except for large chain establishments, are usually considered small businesses. Managers are typically in charge of overseeing the day-to-day operations of the restaurant, hiring and training new crew members, and dealing directly with customers in order to ensure satisfaction.

In addition to the above, there are also many small businesses in the service industry. Auto repair, dry cleaning, and lawn maintenance companies are just a few of the many types of small businesses that make up the service industry.

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