Entrepreneur vs. Small Business Owner: What's in a Name? Artwork

Small Business Casual

Where small business meets your favorite pair of slippers.

A little quirky, not too buttoned up, one less accessory, ahhh… just right.

Welcome to Small Business Casual, where we focus on designing sustainable, cozy, and thriving businesses tailored to your LIFE. Not the other way around!

From general business and marketing to making sense of the behind-the-scenes chaos, I’m Emily Aborn, your host and Small Business Copywriter! I’m here to walk alongside you as we make running our businesses less of a roller coaster and more like a scenic train ride (don't forget the snacks!).

Want to be a guest on Small Business Casual? Send Emily Aborn a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/smallbusinesscasual

All Episodes

Small Business Casual

Entrepreneur vs. Small Business Owner: What's in a Name?

March 10, 2026 • Emily Aborn

0:00 | 25:51

Text Emily!

Entrepreneur, Freelancer, Self-Employed, Business Owner, Small Business Owner, Founder, CEO... what's in a name?

Don't they all just mean the same thing? Does it even matter what we call ourselves? Does it matter what we call our clients?

In this episode, we’ll explore why "entrepreneur" vs. "small business owner" feel a bit different. We'll get into what they actually each MEAN on paper, and we’ll identify together which one YOU might be while giving you permission to reject both if you so choose.

What you'll learn:

What these labels actually mean (and who's deciding what they mean)
Why "entrepreneur" can feel icky to some and empowering to others
Why "small business owner" feels limiting for some (and grounding to others)
What’s freelancing and self-employment got to do with it
How to choose what to call yourself (or reject the labels entirely)
What should you call your B2B clients and customers?
And more!

Connect with Me!

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Small Business Casual. With over a decade of copywriting experience in 120+ industries, I help small businesses grow with marketing that makes a distinct imprint. I take a big picture approach and genuine connection as I help you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. For fun/downtime, I love reading, writing, hiking with friends, and moments of uninterrupted silence.

Email: emily@emilyaborn.com