Entrepreneur vs Small Business Owner: What Is the Difference?

You may believe that the terms small company owner and entrepreneur are interchangeable. However, if you own a business, you must understand some crucial distinctions because there area few along with the relationship between small business and entrepreneurship.

 If you want to recognize the difference between entrepreneur vs small business owner, here is a list of significant differences! 

• Entrepreneurs are willing to take significant risks, have a big-picture vision, and desire to make a difference in the world.
• Small company operators are usually content to meet a specific need while sustaining themselves.

Despite the significant differences, the terms entrepreneurs and small business owners are often used interchangeably. People are confusing both terms increasingly as the number of self-employed individuals grows. According to Pew Research, 16 million people out of a workforce of over 150 million identify as self-employed.

Are All Business Owners Entrepreneurs? 

Millions of individuals are now working as independent contractors or freelancers in the rising gig economy to make their work schedules and earn money on their terms. Everyone suddenly appears to have become an entrepreneur, and the term is being used to describe various activities.

If you are also confused about the difference between entrepreneur and small business owner and want to get in-depth about the differences, we have got your back.

This blog post details a comprehensive comparison of entrepreneurs vs. small business owners so that you can better identify yourself and make rational career decisions.

What Is A Small Business Owner? 

A small business owner usually begins a company in their neighborhood to provide a service to a specific target population. They can be simply defined as small company owners who provide a particular product or service to persons in a specific community who require it.

Small companies are self-employed enterprises with less than 500 employees, and there are around 32 million small businesses in the United States.

A small business may arise as a result of an individual's passion or expertise, and they opt to do it alone to make a greater effect. Frequently, a company owner will inherit a mom-and-pop shop from a relative. Small company entrepreneurs are concerned with adding value to their community in some way.

What Is An Entrepreneur? 

An entrepreneur, on the other hand, has enormous plans. They like brainstorming new technology or ideas for expanding their firm. They want to think about their prosperous future, and they are always planning and networking in their field.

According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, there are around 31 million entrepreneurs in the United States, and more than half of individuals in the labor force have attempted to start a business at some point in their lives.

Entrepreneurs are the founders of start-ups and Silicon Valley tech specialists trying to develop the next big thing like Facebook or Tesla. They want to reach out to various groups and locales nationally or worldwide.

We also created this comprehensive checklist to become entrepreneur.

Entrepreneur vs Small Business Owner – What Are The Key Differences? 

The misconception arises from the fact that both entrepreneurs and small company owners can own a small firm. What distinguishes small business owners from entrepreneurs is how they think about their firm and conduct business. 

Still confused about the differences? Go through the detailed comparison of Entrepreneurs vs. small business owners we've conducted to get a better hold of the concept! 

Risk

This is most likely the most critical distinction between entrepreneurs and small business owners. Entrepreneurs take risks and strive for rapid development. These risk-taking actions sometimes pay off, and sometimes they don't, but that's part of the adventure that an entrepreneur is not afraid of. In a business sense, entrepreneurs are thus more like gamblers.

Small business owners usually stick to what they know and avoid situations that might lead to a business disaster. While starting a small business is still challenging, companies typically have a modest trajectory depending on their resources. They expand slowly as they get more clients and spread the word about their services.

Big-Picture Concepts

Entrepreneurs have along-term view of the world. They see a market need and want to solve it in away that no one has attempted before. Their objectives frequently transcend beyond the end of the year and may span several years.

In contrast, small business owners are more focused on the here and now, and their ideal is typically within reach. They are more concerned with day-to-day operations, maintaining a steady cash flow, and successfully fulfilling their community role.

Innovation

Entrepreneurs are continuously on the lookout for the next big thing and are regular users of technology and innovation websites. They can't get enough of what's fresh and exciting, so they're generally at the vanguard of major movements.

On the other hand, small business owners understand what works for them and stick to it. They understand how to maintain long-term success. They've filled the void they set out to fill, and there's no need for them to expand.

Scalability

Most entrepreneurs hope that their firm will one day be successful. They don't necessarily want to oversee the day-to-day operations and may even choose to sell their company later.

Small business owners are often more emotional about their firm and would never consider passing it over to someone else. They like where they are and aren't looking to move on to the next great idea once they've gotten everything they can from one. But Entrepreneurs focus on scaling their startup.

Vision

While both entrepreneurs and small business owners might be enthusiastic about their work, it is generally for different reasons. 

Small business owners usually do what they do to support themselves and their families, as well as to be able to work for themselves. On the flip side, entrepreneurs are always seeking change. They aim to have a significant impact on the globe. They want to leave an impression. They also want to be heard. It is not enough for them to be successful, and money is not necessarily what they seek. What they desire is to make a significant difference.

When Does An Entrepreneur Become A Business Owner? 

Now that you have read through all the major differences between entrepreneurs and small business owners, you must understand that though the two are entirely different concepts, there's a very thin line in between. 

While an entrepreneur's core priorities are to bring newer ideas to the forefront of the globe everyday, a business owner wants to make money out of anything he might be passionate about or finds an opportunity with. Thus, when entrepreneurs side-lines their top priority and start thinking about making more money with whatever they can, it is precisely when they turn into business owners.

Though there is nothing wrong with being a business owner or an entrepreneur, one must understand and acknowledge wherever they fall to actually succeed!