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 .
Employer firm data available .
In 2021, about **** million small business firms with employees were counted in the United States. That same year, there were around ** million non-employer small businesses.
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U.S. 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 ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 29, 2026, from /statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/
U.S. 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. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 29, 2026. /statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/
U.S. Census Bureau, Small Business Administration. (2024). Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 29, 2026. /statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/
U.S. Census Bureau, and Small Business Administration. "Number of Small Businesses (Employer and Non-employer) in The United States from 1997 to 2021." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 17 May 2024, /statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/
U.S. Census Bureau & Small Business Administration, Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2021 ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/ (last visited July 29, 2026)
Number of small businesses (employer and non-employer) in the United States from 1997 to 2021 [Graph], U.S. Census Bureau, & Small Business Administration, May 17, 2024. [Online]. Available: /statistics/257521/number-of-small-businesses-in-the-us/
