Using "CEO" as a Sole Proprietor?

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A

Amenity

  • #1
    I want a title that I won't have to change in the future (I'm just like that), but I need something that fits now as well. I can't think of what else to use except from CEO in the beginnings. I know I'll be able to grow into it, but for now I don't really want to come across as pretentious...

    I was thinking of going for something that describes exactly what I do, but then it wouldn't really tell people that I'm the head.

    "Founder" sounded like a good one, but not sure if it can be considered as a genuine title..?

    Don't want to waste too much time on this. Currently using CEO but wondering if I should change it...

    Any suggestions?

    Thanks.
     
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    A

    Amenity

  • #3
    Is "Owner" something I can grow into? Or when I go Ltd, have lots of employees etc., would it be wise to change then? Do many big company owners call themselves an "Owner"?
     
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    E

    EICIC

    Free Member
    Nov 18, 2012
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    7
    St.Helens, England
  • #4
    When you go limited you'll probably change to director or managing director.

    I think it really depends on what type of business you have, what situations you find yourself in and what media you will use the title on.

    Owner or Proprietor tend to be the ones I see most commonly then a job title that describes what they do consultant etc or no title.

    Id like to see what others think



    Sent from my GT-I9100 using UK Business Forums
     
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    B

    businessfunding

  • #5
    Personal opinion - you will look ridiculous calling yourself CEO as a sole trader, or even as a small Ltd Company.

    There is nothing wrong with proprietor / owner, nor with managing director (for convenience I just use director)

    It is usual for titles to 'grow' as things progress, so let your title follow results (it probably won't feel important by then)
     
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    M

    marlint

    Free Member
    Jul 24, 2009
    61
    7
    London
  • #10
    I tend to vary it depending who I'm corresponding with.

    When it is a US based business I tend to use CEO/Founder (as it seems to be more common for people running small startups to use such a title over there).

    When in the UK- I tend to use Director if I need a title, but most of the time just don't give one.
     
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    Amenity

  • #14
    Stretchy said:
    Good thinking. Unless you end up floating a pulic company CEO may as well be spelt WALLY.
    Click to expand...

    Due to the nature of the company I don't think I'd like to ever go public... but I think CEO would still be a worthy title. The company will eventually be multinational and do a lot of business in the US, where the corporate title CEO is used all the time (within public and private companies).

    Lots of non-wallys use CEO in the UK too: Felix Dennis isn't a wally but has a "CEO" running his Dennis Publishing, which has always been private and most likely always will be. Lots of examples but that one just appeared in my head as I read into his company a bit before, after reading some of his stuff.

    Another one is KashFlow, accounting software I've used before. The owner calls himself CEO and it works just fine.

    In the US at least I think CEO is pretty standard, even if you haven't been appointed by a board and are public, or even if you don't have a board!
     
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