In 2021, about 6.27 million small business firms with employees were counted in the United States. That same year, there were around 28 million non-employer small businesses.
Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2021
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Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2021
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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. (May 17, 2024). Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2021 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 01, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/?hubs_post=blog.hubspot.com%252Fmarketing%252Fmarket-research-buyers-journey-guide&hubs_post-cta=image
US Census Bureau, und Small Business Administration. "Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2021." Chart. May 17, 2024. Statista. Accessed May 01, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/?hubs_post=blog.hubspot.com%252Fmarketing%252Fmarket-research-buyers-journey-guide&hubs_post-cta=image
US Census Bureau, Small Business Administration. (2024). Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2021. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 01, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/?hubs_post=blog.hubspot.com%252Fmarketing%252Fmarket-research-buyers-journey-guide&hubs_post-cta=image
US Census Bureau, and Small Business Administration. "Number of Small Businesses (Employer and Non-employer) in The United States from 1997 to 2021." Statista, Statista Inc., 17 May 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/?hubs_post=blog.hubspot.com%252Fmarketing%252Fmarket-research-buyers-journey-guide&hubs_post-cta=image
US Census Bureau & Small Business Administration, Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2021 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/?hubs_post=blog.hubspot.com%252Fmarketing%252Fmarket-research-buyers-journey-guide&hubs_post-cta=image (last visited May 01, 2025)
Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2021 [Graph], US Census Bureau, & Small Business Administration, May 17, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/?hubs_post=blog.hubspot.com%252Fmarketing%252Fmarket-research-buyers-journey-guide&hubs_post-cta=image
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