A Business Manager is a professional who oversees the staffing and operations of a business. Business Managers help a business run efficiently and productively, and constantly strive to improve its performance. This role requires a combination of business and financial knowledge in addition to a wide range of people and management skills. Business Managers work in many different industries, and in most cases, they earn a salary that is significantly higher than average.
What is a Business Manager?
A Business Manager is a leader who supervises the personnel and operations of a department or organization. They work to maintain productivity, efficiency, and organization, and to help the company achieve its goals. They also help improve overall performance and find new opportunities for growth and improvement. A small company might have only one Business Manager, while a larger company might have a number of them. Some Business Managers specialize in a specific area such as marketing, sales, or administration.
A Business Manager typically takes responsibility for a wide range of different tasks. These vary depending on the industry they work in and the company they work for, however, in general, this position involves four main aspects. One is planning, which means setting future goals and making a plan for achieving them. The second is organizing tasks and resources so that business plans can be implemented. A third part of business management is leading employees. Finally, Business Managers are responsible for controlling the operations of a business, which means keeping track of how it is performing and making any changes that are needed.
Job Requirements
To work in business management, you’ll need to learn a broad set of skills including finance, communication, and leadership. You’ll also need knowledge of the specific industry you plan to work in. A great way to get this education is to enroll in a bootcamp or certificate course at a career training school. These types of programs are usually both comprehensive and accelerated, with a focus on helping you master everything you need for a career in business management, and doing so in the shortest amount of time possible. They are typically intended to prepare you for an entry-level job in your intended field. Most also include career support services such as help creating a resume and portfolio, and advice about applying for jobs and interviewing. In some cases, you’ll even leave the course with connections to professional networks in your field.
If you want to work in business management, in addition to education, you’ll need work experience, during which you can learn how to apply your knowledge in real-world situations. Experience is also an important part of learning the many intricacies of being a Business Manager. There are lots of different ways to gain experience. LinkedIn has an article titled, “You Want To Get Experience in Business Management Before Starting your Career. How Can You Do It?” where it explains some ways to gain experience in this field while you’re still in school. It says, “One of the most effective ways to get experience in business management is to find an internship or a part-time job that relates to your field of interest. You can search for opportunities on job boards, career fairs, social media, or your network.” Other suggestions are: joining a student organization, volunteering, and starting a side project.
Professional certifications can also be beneficial for a career in business management. Research shows that these often give job applicants an edge over other candidates, and can also increase the chances of advancement or pay raises. The specific certification that you pursue will depend on what field you plan to work in and what type of specialization you’re pursuing. Some certifications that might be useful in business management include Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), and Certified Professional-Human Resource (IPMA-CP).
Job Responsibilities
A Business Manager is responsible for overseeing business operations and also for managing personnel. Some typical responsibilities associated with this job are:
- Supervising existing employees
- Hiring and training new employees
- Managing schedules
- Monitoring resources
- Resolving company problems
- Conducting research on market trends
- Designing and implementing business plans
Your specific responsibilities will depend on the industry that you work in and whether or not you specialize.
Skills
To succeed as a Business Manager, you’ll need to have a number of different skills including a solid understanding of financial concepts, the ability to lead, and excellent communication skills. You’ll also need to be good at time management, problem-solving, and strategic thinking.
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Financial Literacy
As a Business Manager, you’ll need to have a strong understanding of financial concepts and should be able to use that knowledge in your daily job. Some of the daily tasks that might necessitate financial literacy include interpreting financial statements, making a budget, and making investment decisions,
Leadership
Leadership is another crucial skill in business management. This position involves leading a team of people and being able to inspire them, delegate tasks to them, help them collaborate, and solve conflicts that arise. Effective leadership can help create a positive environment where employees and the business can thrive.
Communication
Communication--both verbal and written--is a key part of business management. You’ll need to be able to communicate a wide range of information to the people that you manage and work with, such as your goals, timelines for completing tasks, and feedback about performance. You’ll also need to be able to resolve conflicts through communication.
Time Management
As a Business Manager, it's likely that you’ll have a lot of different tasks to juggle, so time management skills will be important. Being able to manage your time well can help ensure that the business is productive and that you maintain good relationships with employees and customers.
Problem-Solving
Working as a Business Manager, you’ll face constant challenges, and you’ll need strong problem-solving skills to identify problems and find solutions to them. The ability to think creatively can be an asset here.
Strategic Thinking
Strategic thinking means being able to understand how your decisions will affect the future of the business, and make a plan about how to achieve long-term success. For instance, you might have to think strategically when buying company resources or when creating a business model.
Why Do Businesses Need Business Managers?
A Business Manager is an important part of a business. They help the business and its employees develop clear goals and operate in a way that helps them fulfill those goals. An effective Business Manager can be the difference between a business that thrives and one that does not. They can find talented employees, and keep them motivated and productive. They can also make sure that the business has a clear and effective plan and that it follows that plan.
Where Do Business Managers Usually Work?
Most businesses need Business Managers, which means that Business Managers work in a wide variety of different industries. The College Board website has an article titled, “10 Jobs for Business Management Majors, where the author explains that many business management jobs can be grouped into three main clusters. They state, “A career cluster is a group of jobs with similar features that often require similar knowledge or skills.” According to the College Board article, “Business Management jobs often fall under the Business Management and Administration, Education and Training, and Marketing career clusters.” The author goes on to list some specific types of jobs that are common in this field. These include Chief Executive, General and Operations Manager, Sales Manager, Administrative Service Manager, Training and Development Managers, and Human Resources Manager.
Business Manager Salary and Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is a federal agency that gathers and analyzes labor market statistics and publishes a variety of reports detailing its findings. It reports a strong job outlook for all management jobs. It says, “Overall employment in management occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032. About 1.1 million openings are projected each year, on average, in these occupations due to employment growth and the need to replace workers who leave the occupations permanently.” Also according to BLS, “The median annual wage for this group was $116,880 in May 2023, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $48,060.”
BLS also provides more information about a number of specific management jobs. For instance, it lists the role of Administrative Services and Facilities Manager. It predicts that jobs in this field will grow by about 5 percent over the next decade, which is faster than average. It says, “Demand for administrative services managers is expected to be particularly strong for those working in records and information management. As cloud computing continues to expand, these workers will have a critical role in helping organizations develop new records and information management practices and in maintaining data security.” The median pay for this position is almost $105,000.
Another management job is Human Resource Manager, which is also expected to see job growth of about 5 percent over the next ten years. According to BLS, “About 15,500 openings for human resources managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.” This job pays an average salary of $136,000.
Training and Development Managers are also expected to see above-average growth--about 6 percent--and have a median salary of about $125,000. BLS explains that this growth will be a result of the continued need to develop new training methods for employees. It explains, “Innovations in training methods and learning technology are expected to continue throughout the decade, particularly for organizations with remote workers. Organizations use social media, visual simulations, mobile learning, and social networks in their training programs. Training and development managers need to continue modifying training programs, allocating budgets, and integrating these features into training programs and curriculums.”
Finally, 4 percent growth is expected for Sales Managers. BLS says, “About 43,200 openings for sales managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.” The average salary for this role is $135,000.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Business Manager?
The length of time it takes to become a business manager varies widely and depends on many different factors including how much existing business knowledge you have, the industry you plan to work in, and what type of management you plan to focus on. In general, it’s possible to learn some business management skills in a matter of months, however, this is a complex field and most people say it will take a number of years to gain all the skills and experience that you’ll need. One way to speed up the learning process is to enroll in a paid business class where you can learn under the guidance of an expert. An expert instructor can also help you by providing feedback on your progress, in addition to sharing tips and tricks, and connecting you with valuable professional networks.
Business Manager vs. Business Administrator
Business management and business administration are similar in some ways, however, they are two distinct roles. Both are about leading a team and managing a business, but Business Managers are more focused on designing and monitoring the overall business strategy and infrastructure, while Business Administrators are focused more on the day-to-day operations of the business. The topics that business management students learn include leadership, managing human resources, business law, and business strategy. Students in business administration take classes in economics, accounting, and finance.
Learn the Skills to Become a Business Manager at Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop is a New York City-based school that offers a wide variety of business classes, both in person--at its Manhattan facility--and in a live online format. Courses include comprehensive, hands-on bootcamps and certificate programs, which are designed to help you master all the skills that you’ll need in order to work as a business manager. Noble also runs a number of shorter courses where you can spend a day or two learning essential business skills like financial modeling or Excel. This school is licensed by the New York State Education Department.
One popular Noble Desktop option is the “MBA” Business Certificate. This course is an “MBA-style” program and it includes some of the skills taught in MBA programs. In this class, you’ll learn tools and strategies for finance, project management, marketing, and data analysis. You’ll also learn about the practical applications of generative AI, and will get access to a self-paced class that covers the basics of business insurance, employment law, and business law. This class includes the option to take electives that match your specific area of interest. Finally, it comes with eight one-on-one mentoring sessions.
Another popular certificate program is the Data Analytics Certificate. In this course you’ll learn about gathering, wrangling, analyzing, and visualizing data, and you’ll work on a number of real-world projects. Both predictive and prescriptive analytics are covered, in addition to Python, Excel, Tableau, and SQL. All students also receive eight one-on-one mentoring sessions, which can be used to work on challenging concepts or for resume and portfolio advice.
Noble Desktop also runs many different business-related bootcamps. The Project Management Bootcamp is a popular option. This class is designed for students who want to learn more about project management. It is a combination of the school’s Level I and Level II classes and is offered at a discount. When you take the Project Management Bootcamp, you’ll learn the five phases of project management and will receive a slide deck that contains a variety of exercises. You’ll also learn about Waterfall, Critical Path, and Agile methods of project management, including popular Agile frameworks. You’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end of the class.
Another bootcamp option is the Chat GTP & AI for Business Bootcamp. This course is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to utilize AI in your daily business tasks. You’ll learn how to create effective prompts, manage conversations, and use advanced features like memory settings. You’ll also learn about the ethical considerations of AI. In addition, the course focuses on ways to use AI for task management, communication, and project planning. You’ll learn about automating repetitive tasks, optimizing schedules, and improving collaboration and administrative workflows.
Noble also offers many shorter classes focused on a number of different business skills. For example, it has a variety of short Excel classes: Excel Level 1,Level 2, and Level 3. Level 1 is focused on getting familiar with the interface, entering data, using essential formulas and functions, and creating charts. You’ll also learn how to format and print. Level 2 covers splitting and joining text, adding data validation, named ranges, database functions, adding logical statements, and using Pivot Tables. In addition, you’ll learn to use statistical functions and create advanced combo charts. In Level 3, instructors cover advanced concepts including cell locking, auditing, hotkeys, formatting for calculating dates, advanced functions, advanced analytical tools, Pivot Charts, and advanced database functions.