106 Business Statistics (2025) – Updated Data & Reports

As of 2025, the global number of businesses stands at 358.7 million, representing a 3.29% increase from 2022. The United States alone hosts 33.3 million small companies, constituting a significant 99.9% of the nation’s total enterprises.

While small businesses are vital, creating 1.5 million US jobs annually and contributing 44% to the US economy, they face considerable challenges.

Around 20% of small businesses unfortunately fail within their first year, and 50% don’t survive beyond five years. The average startup cost ranges from $2,000 to $5,000, with employees earning an average annual salary of $45,857.

Let us get into these details.

Business Statistics 2025 (Top Picks)

• There are 358.7 million businesses globally.
• The United States has approximately 33.3 million small businesses, which account for 99.9% of the country’s businesses.
• 20% of small businesses are at a high risk of failing within the first year of their establishment. 
• The average cost to start a small business in the initial years ranges from $2,000 to $5,000. 
• It was reported that the average earnings by small business employees each year is $45,857. 

How Many Businesses Are There?

There are 358.7 million businesses worldwide.

That’s a 3.29% increase in the number of businesses worldwide compared to the 347.29 million recorded in 2022. 

Here is a table displaying the number of businesses over the years: 

Source: Statista

General Business Statistics

Businesses have contributed significantly to the growth of national economies. Many new small businesses have grown over the years and are running successfully. Let us take a look at the general statistics related to small businesses and other statistics related to them. 

• 99.9% of the businesses in the US are small
• More than 50% of the owners are over the age of 55.
• 66% of the small business owners reported that they started their small businesses to be their own bosses. 
• 82% of small businesses were reported to survive just one year, while 50% of them were observed to survive five years, and just 35% of them were able to survive ten years.
• In the year 2022, 32.5 small businesses were recorded in the US. 
• Approximately 64% of the new jobs created annually are generated by small businesses, which have resulted in the creation of 1.5 million jobs in the United States. 
• More than 65% of the businesses were profitable in the year 2022. 
• 64% of the small businesses stated that they started with $10,000. 
• Approximately 90% of companies worldwide are small businesses, which account for around 50% of the jobs. 
• There are 400 million small businesses around the globe. 
• The number of small businesses in the US has doubled since the year 1982.
• Small businesses generate 44% of the US economy.
• Over the past 25 years, Small businesses have been responsible for creating 2 out of 3 jobs.  
• 17.7% of small businesses in the US are owned by minorities.
• 41% of the non-employer small businesses in the U.S. are owned by Women.
• 40.6% of the small business owners in the US are Republicans, while 21.9% are democrats. 
• More than 15 million Americans work full-time for their own businesses.
• 19% of the business owners reported that they work more than 60 hours a week on their business to make it a success. 
• It was reported that 16.3% of the population in the Americas is over 65 years of age. 
• There are around 400 million small businesses around the world. 

32. 600 million jobs must be created by the year 2030 to support the growing global workforce. 
33. Small businesses are less likely to get bank loans as compared to larger firms. 

Sources: Statista, Semrush, Fundera, Zen Business, McKinsey.

Small Business Industries 

Small businesses have thrived in various industries worldwide. The most significant contribution of small businesses was seen in the food and restaurant sector. Let us take a look at the stats related to small businesses in the industry and their contribution to the industry. 

• 12% of Small businesses are from the food and restaurant industry.

Here is a table that indicates the percentage of industries owned by small businesses:

• 56% of small businesses reported that they struggle to find loyal employees. 
• 63% of the small businesses had to increase employee compensation. 
• 84% of the Entrepreneurs in the small business industry reported that they had to work overtime. 
• There are 81% of the small businesses in the industry that have no employees. 
• It was found that flexibility is the reason to motivate approximately 29% of small business owners. 
• The small businesses that use external accountants from the industry account for up to only 30% of the small businesses. 
• 31% of small businesses reported that they put CRM systems at the top of their tech requirements. 

Sources: Scalable, Semrush, Embroker, Statista.

Small Business Trends

New trends in small businesses have transformed the industry. The small business industry has grown considerably and contributed to various industries. Here are a few stats related to the small business trends that affect the market.  

• 56% of owners reported that digitalization is very expensive for small businesses. 
• 70 -80% of the small businesses globally lost between 30% and 50% of their revenue during COVID-19.
• 15.1% of the small businesses in the year 2022 were reported to be retail. 
• More than 50% of the businesses plan to increase their staff in the year 2022.
• According to  92% of the owners, the website is the most effective strategy for digital marketing. 
• 31% of the owners reported that sales are their top marketing goal. 
• 47% of small business owners reported that they run marketing entirely on their own. 
• 50% of small businesses are reported to be operated from home. 
• 91% of consumers support small businesses when they find it convenient and affordable. 
• 28% of data breaches occur due to small businesses.

52. 65% of the investors reported that they are more likely to invest in startups involving technologies like AI.
53. 39% of the business owners reported that they are very happy with their work and their small business. 
54. 92% of small business owners reported that they don’t regret starting their business. 

Sources: Semrush, Statista, US Small Business Administration, Forbes. 

Small Business Revenue

The revenue generated by small businesses significantly contributes to the country’s development. The revenue generated by small businesses is the factor that contributes the most to decision-making while starting your own business.

Let us take a look at all the statistics related to the revenue generated by small businesses. 

• 27% of the small businesses estimated that their annual sales in the year 2020 would exceed $200,000. 
• The average annual sales for small businesses without employees were $46,978.
• 45% of the non-employers had a revenue that was less than $25,000. 
• More than 86% of the owners receive a yearly salary of less than $100,000. 
• 65% of the entrepreneurs reported that they don’t think they have enough cash to start a business. 
• Around 34% of the businesses started with less than $5,000.

Sources: Semrush, Statista, Guidant Financial, US Small Business Administration, 

Small Business Success And Failure Statistics

• 65.3% of the small businesses are profitable as of the record in the year 2022.
• More than $1 million is made by 9% of small businesses. 
• 77% of small business owners reported that they feel optimistic about the future of their business. 
• The healthcare businesses and the social assistance businesses have the highest survival rates compared to the other industries. 
• 62% of small business owners reported that their businesses are in good health, while 30% of the owners reported that their business is in very good health. 
• 20% of businesses fail within the first year of establishment. 
• 70% of businesses fail before completing 10 years in the industry. 
• More than 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years of establishment. 

The following table indicates the failure rates of the businesses after the years of establishment:

• 82% of the businesses claimed that the reason for their failure was the lack of proper cash flow. 
• 42% of the businesses reported that the reason for their failure was the lack of demand for their products in society and industry. 

Here are the reasons for the failure of small businesses, as reported by business owners. 

• 23% of small businesses fail because they lack the right team and the right support.
• 46% of small businesses are clear about their marketing strategies and if they are working.
• 66% of small businesses encounter financial challenges. 

Sources: Semrush, Statista, US Small Business Administration, Fundera, Guidant Financial. 

Small Business Finance Statistics

• In the United States, the average amount of loans taken by small businesses was equivalent to $71,072.
• 77% of the small businesses in the US reported that they use business earnings as their primary source of funding. 
• In the year 2020, 73% of the small employer forum reported that they received financial assistance from the Paycheck Protection Program. 
• The most approved loan for small businesses was auto or equipment loan applications. 

The following table indicates the number of loans approved. 

• 35% of businesses with low credit scores reported that they sought help from online lenders, while 23% of them sought help from non-bank finance companies. 
• 11% of business owners reported having higher credit scores and were allowed to submit loan applications to online lenders, while 11% of them submitted them to finance companies. 
• In the year 2021, 39% of business owners utilized cash for financing.

The following table includes details about the most popular financing methods for small businesses. 

Sources: Semrush, Fundera, Statista, US Small Business Administration, Oberlo.

Online Small Businesses

Small businesses have started to open their store online during the pandemic. Most of the small businesses’ sales were boosted on online platforms.

Here are a few statistics related to online small businesses. 

• 71% of the small businesses reported that they survived the pandemic through digitalization and started selling their products online. 
• In the next three years, the growth rate of artificial intelligence is projected to reach 310% in the next three years. 
• 30% of small business firms reported that they plan to use technology to provide customers with automatic recommendations. 
• Up to 80% of the people reported that they research small businesses and their products before purchasing from them. 
• 70% of the consumers reported that they support local businesses by shopping online from them or by purchasing from the store. 
• 42% of small businesses have developed new digital products and functions, and these have been reported as maintaining them even after the pandemic ends. 

Sources: Salesforce, MintLife, Semrush, Fundera, Statista, US small Business Administration. 

Challenges For Small Businesses 

Starting a new business is a significant challenge in itself. While business owners conduct sales and marketing, they face numerous challenges and issues. Let us take a look at the statistics related to the challenges that small business owners face. 

• 67.8% of small business owners in the US reported that they were affected negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Here are the other impacts of COVID-19 on small businesses. 

• 44.9% of small businesses experienced moderate negative effects on their small business. 
• 67.6% of the new businesses were reported to survive at least two years, while 25.7 businesses reported having survived at least 15 years. 
• It was reported that 43% of the cyberattacks targeted small businesses. 

Sources: Semrush, Statista, Fundera, Oberlo.

Conclusion: The Number Of Businesses Worldwide Is 358.7 Million 

In conclusion, the global business market comprises 358.7 million businesses, and small businesses are the backbone of many economies, including the US, where they represent 99.9% of all enterprises.

Despite their critical role in job creation, accounting for 64% of new jobs annually in the US, and their significant economic contribution, they face substantial hurdles. 20% fail within their first year, and 82% cite cash flow issues as a primary reason for failure.

While 65.3% of small businesses were profitable in 2022, challenges like cybersecurity threats and the need for digitalization persist. However, increased online presence and technological adoption indicate a resilient and evolving sector.

As we look to the future, further innovations in the business are likely to contribute to continued growth in the global business count.