sole proprietor
One-person business owner
A sole proprietor is a person who owns and operates a business alone, without partners or corporate structure.
The business and owner are legally the same entity—profits go directly to the owner, but so does all liability.
She filed taxes as a sole proprietor.
Most freelancers and small business owners start as sole proprietors.
Independent decision-making capacity
- solopreneurSelf-employed business owner
- one-manPerformed alone
- freelancerSelf-employed service provider
- self-employedWorking independently, not hired
entrepreneur · unshared · private enterprise · solo · independent · own boss · self-directed · decision-maker
Not legally chartered
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- personal assetsOne's owned valuables
- personal responsibilityDuty to own consequences
- individualOne separate human being
ownership · undivided · nontransferable · Schedule C · EIN · business license · DBA · registration
Professional advice provider
- contractorHired construction professional
- artisanSkilled manual tradesperson
- tradespersonSkilled manual laborer
- craftspersonSkilled manual worker
designer · developer · photographer · writer · tutor · coach · agent · broker
autonomy
Independent decision-making capacity
- solopreneurSelf-employed business owner
- one-manPerformed alone
- freelancerSelf-employed service provider
self-employed · entrepreneur · unshared · private enterprise · solo · independent · own boss · self-directed · decision-maker · full control
unincorporated
Not legally chartered
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- personal assetsOne's owned valuables
- personal responsibilityDuty to own consequences
individual · ownership · undivided · nontransferable · Schedule C · EIN · business license · DBA · registration · unlimited liability
consultant
Professional advice provider
- contractorHired construction professional
- artisanSkilled manual tradesperson
- tradespersonSkilled manual laborer
craftsperson · designer · developer · photographer · writer · tutor · coach · agent · broker · advisor
shop
Retail sales venue
- storefrontRetail facade facing street
- boutiqueSmall specialized retail shop
- merchantOne who sells wares
trader · kiosk · market stall · vendor · retailer · outlet · studio · atelier · gallery · food cart
- businesscompany, corporation, firm, enterprise, commerce
- entrepreneurshipentrepreneur, startup, founder, co-founder, cofounder
- business operatorsowner, CEO, founder, manager, entrepreneur
- business ownersshop owner, shopkeeper, storekeeper, restaurateur, boutique owner
- business typesbig business, business, corporation, partnership, nonprofit
- Businesspeopleentrepreneur, executive, CEO, businesswoman, founder
sole proprietorpartnership
Shared business arrangement
corporation · joint venture · limited liability company · LLC · conglomerate
sole proprietoremployee
Hired organizational member
wage earner · salaried worker · hired hand · subordinate · company man
sole, solely, proprietor, soled, solenoid, proprietorship, proprietorships