In 15 Seconds
- Being the person in charge of a company's operations.
- Managing daily tasks, staff, and finances for a shop.
- Taking full responsibility for a professional organization's success.
Meaning
This phrase means you are the person in charge of a company or shop. You handle the daily tasks, make decisions, and keep everything moving forward.
Key Examples
3 of 6Meeting a new neighbor
I run a small landscaping business in the summer.
I manage a small landscaping business in the summer.
A job interview
I ran a business with ten employees for five years.
I managed a business with ten employees for five years.
Texting a friend about being busy
Sorry I missed your call, running a business is exhausting!
Sorry I missed your call, managing a business is tiring!
Cultural Background
The 'Small Business Owner' is a political and cultural icon in the US, representing the 'backbone' of the economy. Running a business is often equated with personal freedom. There is a strong tradition of 'family-run businesses' passing through generations, especially in rural areas and small towns. Running a business (Keiei) often involves a deep sense of responsibility toward employees, sometimes described as a 'paternalistic' management style. The 'Mittelstand' (medium-sized, often family-run businesses) is the heart of the German economy, known for high-quality niche products.
Use 'Own and Run'
To show you are both the founder and the manager, use the phrase 'I own and run a business.'
Business vs. Company
While often interchangeable, 'run a business' sounds slightly more entrepreneurial, while 'run a company' sounds more corporate.
In 15 Seconds
- Being the person in charge of a company's operations.
- Managing daily tasks, staff, and finances for a shop.
- Taking full responsibility for a professional organization's success.
What It Means
To run a business means you are the boss or the manager. It is not about physically running with your legs! It means you control the operations. You pay the bills, hire people, and solve problems. If the shop opens on time, it is because you are running it well. It implies responsibility and leadership.
How To Use It
You use this phrase to describe your job or someone else's role. You can say I run a small bakery or She runs a tech empire. It works for tiny lemonade stands or massive corporations. Use it when you want to sound capable and in control. It focuses on the action of managing rather than just owning.
When To Use It
Use it in job interviews to show your experience. Use it when meeting new people at a party. It is perfect for LinkedIn profiles or casual coffee chats. If someone asks, "What do you do?", this is a great answer. It sounds more active and energetic than just saying "I am a manager."
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it if you are just an employee with no authority. If you just work at a desk, you do not run the business. Also, avoid it for short, one-time tasks. You do not run a business for a weekend garage sale. That is usually just "having a sale." Don't use it for hobbies that don't make money either.
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, running a business is often seen as the "American Dream." It represents independence and hard work. People take great pride in saying they run something. It suggests you are a leader in your community. The word run here comes from the idea of keeping a machine moving smoothly.
Common Variations
You might hear people say run the show or run the shop. If someone is doing a bad job, they might run it into the ground. If they are very successful, they are running a tight ship. All these variations use the idea of movement to describe management. It makes the work sound dynamic and exciting!
Usage Notes
This is a highly versatile, neutral collocation. It is safe for almost any context, though in high-level corporate legal documents, you might see 'operate' instead.
Use 'Own and Run'
To show you are both the founder and the manager, use the phrase 'I own and run a business.'
Business vs. Company
While often interchangeable, 'run a business' sounds slightly more entrepreneurial, while 'run a company' sounds more corporate.
The 'Side Hustle'
In modern English, people often say they are 'running a side business' to mean a part-time job they do for themselves.
Examples
6I run a small landscaping business in the summer.
I manage a small landscaping business in the summer.
A friendly way to describe your occupation.
I ran a business with ten employees for five years.
I managed a business with ten employees for five years.
Shows leadership experience and professional history.
Sorry I missed your call, running a business is exhausting!
Sorry I missed your call, managing a business is tiring!
Casual way to explain why you are unavailable.
I can run a business, but I can't run a vacuum cleaner!
I can manage a company, but I can't use a vacuum!
Uses the double meaning of 'run' for humor.
My grandfather ran this business until he was eighty.
My grandfather managed this business until he was eighty.
Conveys respect and a sense of history.
They have no idea how to run a business properly.
They don't know how to manage a company correctly.
Expresses frustration with poor management.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'run'.
Last year, my aunt ______ a small boutique in London.
The sentence refers to 'Last year,' so we need the past simple form of 'run,' which is 'ran.'
Which sentence is the most natural?
Choose the correct way to describe managing a company.
'Run a business' is the standard collocation in English.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
A: What does your father do? B: He ___________ that sells organic vegetables.
We need the present simple 'runs' and the article 'a'.
Match the idiom to its meaning.
Match 'Run a tight ship' with its definition.
'Run a tight ship' is a common business idiom for strict management.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Run vs. Work At
Practice Bank
4 exercisesLast year, my aunt ______ a small boutique in London.
The sentence refers to 'Last year,' so we need the past simple form of 'run,' which is 'ran.'
Choose the correct way to describe managing a company.
'Run a business' is the standard collocation in English.
A: What does your father do? B: He ___________ that sells organic vegetables.
We need the present simple 'runs' and the article 'a'.
Match 'Run a tight ship' with its definition.
'Run a tight ship' is a common business idiom for strict management.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, 'run a company' is a perfect synonym, often used for larger organizations.
No. You can own a business (have the papers) but hire someone else to run it (do the work).
The past tense is 'ran a business.' Example: 'He ran a business for ten years.'
Yes, but 'Managed operations for a small business' or 'Directed a firm' might sound even more professional.
Yes, adding adjectives like 'small,' 'large,' 'successful,' or 'failing' is very common.
It means to manage a business so poorly that it fails completely.
Yes, you can 'run a non-profit' or 'run a charity.'
Because 'run' implies the continuous movement and operation of a system, like a machine.
Always use an article: 'run a business' or 'run the business.'
It is a business where members of the same family are in charge of the operations.
Related Phrases
manage a company
synonymTo be in charge of a firm.
start a business
builds onTo create a new company.
own a business
similarTo have legal possession of a company.
run a shop
specialized formTo manage a retail store.
run the show
similarTo be in charge of any situation.
