Director, Proprietor, CEO

[paulrenda]

What title do people use for small businesses? I'm confused as what to sign under my email. Suggestions?

Thank you.
Paul

 

[Bob]

Are you a limited company or sole trader?

 

[paulrenda]

We are a limited company with 2 shareholders.

 

[faradaykeynes]

MD is an option too

 

[Bob]

We are a limited company with 2 shareholders.

In that case, definitely not proprietor. Director is the normal title but can be expanded for instance Managing Director, Sales Director, Commercial Director, Financial Director etc etc

 

[Alan]

What title do people use for small businesses? I'm confused as what to sign under my email. Suggestions?

Thank you.
Paul

This question is often asked.

The general opinion is just use your name. A 'title' is superfluous in 99.9% of communications.

 

[Bob]

I would always use a designatory title. It makes it clear that you are acting as an officer of the company and not as an individual.

 

[Billmccallum]

Depends on the audience for me, when I was Chairman of a Board, I only used the Chairman title when meeting with government officials, when taking to people on the street I was just A Director.

When I ran my consultancy business I used MD.

For the day 2 day stuff it was just Manager.

 

[jdluckhurst]

This question is often asked.

The general opinion is just use your name. A 'title' is superfluous in 99.9% of communications.

yes it is superfluous in a lot of communication but can make a difference to a fraction of communications.

I actually think that choosing the right title is very important and it very much depends on the nature/size of your business. CEO is more of an American term and for a small business it is a little grandiose for my taste. Same with VP. It can sometimes make a difference when talking to potential customers and affect their opinion on how you view yourself/company. I go for Director or MD, simple enough, shows that you are a decision maker but are not trying to make you company like some global blue chip.

 

[paulrenda]

Thanks for all your input. I will be using 'Director' from now on.
I disagree that in 99.9% of communications the title is superfluous. It's always good to know if you're talking to someone that is a decision maker i.e. the company director or a employer that cannot make structural company decisions.

You wouldn't want to spend half an hour with some, just so that at the end he/she says "I now have to go talk to my manager/director ...)

 

[Fred_the_frog]

I always think 'CEO' is a bit too American and should be reserved for big Plc's. Proprietor makes you look like a one man band. I like managing director/ director. Founder is also a common one with all this 'Entrepreneurial Britain' stuff going on, but I don't like it as much as MD

 

[jdluckhurst]

Thanks for all your input. I will be using 'Director' from now on.
I disagree that in 99.9% of communications the title is superfluous. It's always good to know if you're talking to someone that is a decision maker i.e. the company director or a employer that cannot make structural company decisions.

You wouldn't want to spend half an hour with some, just so that at the end he/she says "I now have to go talk to my manager/director ...)

I'm glad I am not the only one who thinks that titles can make a difference.

I always think 'CEO' is a bit too American and should be reserved for big Plc's.

Always find it funny when you are speaking to a one man band CEO. Should just be Executive Officer, or you should question him about the board of directors he supposedly reports to

 

[Fred_the_frog]

I'm glad I am not the only one who thinks that titles can make a difference.



Always find it funny when you are speaking to a one man band CEO. Should just be Executive Officer, or you should question him about the board of directors he supposedly reports to

CFO is his wife who keeps the books and Chief Operations Officer is Son who helps him once in a while for some cash in hand

 

[Alan @ Cloud Accounting]

I like Founder. On my card its "Founder / Director".

 

[ForumJunkie]

In that case, definitely not proprietor. Director is the normal title but can be expanded for instance Managing Director, Sales Director, Commercial Director, Financial Director etc etc

If you're a one man band of an online startup and don't want to be called CEO, Director, Managing Director can one just be called "Head of Marketing"? As that is essentially what my role is, just marketing the company the rest takes care of itself and it would be better for an overall career move.

 

[Senalizacion]

I am a two shareholder, one person company, not employing anyone and a Ltd Company. I use Director. I think MD (in my case) would be a little pretentious/over the top.

 

[10032012]

Sole Director/Shareholder or Dual Ownership/Director .... "Director"

"Managing Director" only if you have investment and own less than half the shares, and actually have specific job duties (rather than just everything as a general entrepreneur)

"CEO" only if a non-profit, (in the UK) directly accountable to the board of trustees, as an employee unconnected to the founding of the organisation (executive, not founder/entrepreneur) etc.

Only ever a Sales Director, Finance Director etc. when there are at least 4 people with Departmental titles.... these don't necessary mean they hold directorships in the business.

Never use President, VP or the like. Sounds silly for small businesses.

Only use "Founder" when your vision and leadership has been surpassed (i.e. you have appointed an executive team to help run the business better) - typically once you have stepped down from MD/CEO/Chairman etc. for the longevity or profitability needs of the business; usually when you invented a product or used a new way of doing business/innovative step... rather than just another business in a marketplace

 

[jdluckhurst]

Never use President, VP or the like. Sounds silly for small businesses.

And far too American! I have in the past talked to people working for US companies that have ridiculous titles like "Vice President of Sales EMEA" when in actual fact they are the only ones 'on the ground' in Europe, Middle East or Africa....are based out of Bracknell and only operate in the UK. As soon as someone realises this you lose instant credibility when I suspect that the title was originally intended to increase credibility. Keep it simple and to the point!