In 2020, about 6.62 million small business firms with employees were counted in the United States. That same year, there were around 27 million non-employer small businesses.
Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2020
Characteristic
Employer firms
Non-employer
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The Small Business Administration defines a small business for research purposes as an independent business having fewer than 500 employees. The source provides no non-employer data for the years 1988-1991 and 1993-1996.
Non-employer data available here.
Employer firm data available here.
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US Census Bureau, & Small Business Administration. (August 17, 2023). Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2020 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau, und Small Business Administration. "Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2020." Chart. August 17, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau, Small Business Administration. (2023). Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2020. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau, and Small Business Administration. "Number of Small Businesses (Employer and Non-employer) in The United States from 1997 to 2020." Statista, Statista Inc., 17 Aug 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau & Small Business Administration, Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2020 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/ (last visited July 22, 2024)
Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2020 [Graph], US Census Bureau, & Small Business Administration, August 17, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/