Always thought about this and never came to a conclusion.
How do you sign your email, business cards, letters, etc... if you're a self employed?
Some use owner, some simply put Technician, some use chairman (sounds funny for a self-employed person). I've got my fiancee helping me on repairs, website stuff, social media marketing and the like... would also like to find a title for her.
I know this is not something that's written on the book... but looking for your thoughts
Da
If you wish to be formal:
on cards: Tony Scarpelli, MBA (education designation), MSCE (professional designation).
Under the name you put your company title President, Technician, Engineer, Customer Satisfaction Specialist or what have you.
If you are incorporated then you sign with your title President Under the name. on all correspondence and contracts.
If you want to be informal in the USA then you need not put any title under your name on a business. On emails and letters you can just put your name above the Company, address. It will be assumed you are manager, owner or representative of the company.
I had 16 employees and 4 stores and Maria put Area Manager on her Cards, and signed letters the same. I sometimes put nothing on my cards, other times put Technical Engineer; or IT Engineer and other cards I would just put Technician. What I mean is we ordered cards a dozen times over the years I didn't always do the same thing.
Nothing wrong putting owner. I think putting President on a one pony DBA business looks a bit pretentiousness. I only put President when I signed legal leases and other contracts as you have to do that for the Corporate protection (if you are legally incorporated). ultimately it is really only your opinion that counts (except where legal protection is wanted).
While I personally avoid trying to make myself look bigger by a fancy title (albeit IT engineer can be considered grandiose I do have 20 years experience in IT and 4 years college and 2 year masters), I firmly believe you should put any and all Titles, certifications, certificates and honors awarded you as they are based on your personal earnings. They are not grandiose at all.
I often put my name, MBA as that is a degree I earned. Like my name Phd..... or whatever you have earned. If you are MSCE always include it, if you are Cisco always include it, even A+ always include it. There is a soft rule that you only put one certification (usually the higest) For example if you are a MBA and/or CPA and an attorney you put Esq or CPA but not both. You can put MBA with either Esq or CPA for some reason I am not sure. Most people put the highest designation they are assigned. I wouldn't think it weird to break this rule and put two designations if you have earned two. But if they both are education designations they become meaning less as to get a Phd you already have a BA or BS and MA so why list a bunch of letters?
If you are incorporated or LLC then I think legally it is correct to always put President or Member as appropriate to notify people dealing with you that you have the authority to sign contracts for the Corp or LLC as well as legal protection against collection.
So in this case even if I am a one man show, and Incorporated, i would put Computer Fix-It, Inc, President on cards and all correspondence because it is a legal designation. I may also put MBA after my name and MCSE.
You can carried away with this for example we have all had two careers or more if you are 34 years or older. So does it make sense to put my auto repossesor certification when I am currently working in Technology? No it is confusing.
Which ever way you go, you can do the exact same thing on your business card and your signature line on email and sign line on contracts or correspondence.
