個人事業主(こじんじぎょうぬし)

こじんじぎょうぬし
noun
sole proprietor; self-employed person; freelancer
formalbusinessworkperson
1. sole proprietor; self-employed person; individual business owner
a person who operates a business on their own without forming a corporation; a legal/tax classification in Japan
個人事業主(こじんじぎょうぬし)として開業届(かいぎょうとどけ)を出(だ)した。
I filed a business registration as a sole proprietor.
個人事業主(こじんじぎょうぬし)は毎年(まいとし)確定申告(かくていしんこく)をする必要(ひつよう)がある。
Sole proprietors need to file a tax return every year.
フリーランスのデザイナーとして働(はたら)いているが、税務上(ぜいむじょう)は個人事業主(こじんじぎょうぬし)に分類(ぶんるい)される。
I work as a freelance designer, but for tax purposes I'm classified as a sole proprietor.

Composed of 個人(こじん) (individual) + 事業(じぎょう) (business) + 主(ぬし) (owner; master). This is the official tax and legal term for someone who runs a business without incorporating. In Japan, becoming a 個人事業主(こじんじぎょうぬし) requires filing a 開業届(かいぎょうとどけ) (business opening notification) with the 税務署(ぜいむしょ) (tax office).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • フリーランス: freelancer — emphasizes the work style; many freelancers are legally 個人事業主(こじんじぎょうぬし)
  • 自営業(じえいぎょう): self-employment — broader term covering anyone who runs their own business
  • 法人(ほうじん): corporation — an incorporated entity, as opposed to an individual business owner

Related Words

Compare: フリーランス (freelancer)
Compare: 自営業(じえいぎょう) (self-employment)
Compare: 法人(ほうじん) (corporation)
Compare: 一人会社(ひとりがいしゃ) (one-person company)
Compare: 零細企業(れいさいきぎょう) (micro enterprise)
general
Added 2026.5.1 0:33 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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