Here is a recent question we received and the answer we provided to our client.   At the conclusion, the recipient provided a donation for our time and efforts.

Question:

I have heard small business owners represent the majority of business owners in America. What is the percentage break-out of the types of small businesses people are involved in? What is the most popular small business and what is the least popular small business?

Answer:
Small business enterprises encompass a variety of trades and industries. Also, how you define a “small business” can have an impact on small business statistics. For example, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) defines a small business for research purposes as an independent business with 500 or fewer employees. Companies in all but the largest industries meet that definition. In fact, using the SBA’s definition of a small business, 99.7% of the estimated 25.8 million businesses in the U.S. in 2005 are considered small businesses. If you narrow the definition of a small business to a sole proprietorship, which is an unincorporated business owned by one person and reports its income and expenses on Schedule C of the owner’s personal Form 1040, a list of some of the popular business activities conducted by the 17 million sole proprietors based on U.S. Department of Treasury data can be found at the following website:

http://www.bizstats.com/mostpopular.htm

While you can research business statistical information through your local library, considerable statistical information on small businesses is available through the SBA and other resources with an Internet search. The following are a few examples:

http://www.score.org/small_biz_stats.html

http://www.sba.gov/advo/stats/sbfaq.pdf

http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/

http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs194.pdf

http://www.joannepratt.com/pdf/Homebased%20BusinessExecSum.pdf

By using this service you agree that in consideration of YourBusiness.pro’s furnishing management or technical assistance that you waive all claims against YourBusiness.pro, its personnel or business partners arising from this assistance. The above information is provided as assistance based on information, which you have provided to YourBusiness.pro. YourBusiness.pro has not undertaken to confirm the accuracy of such information nor perform thorough investigation in providing a response. YourBusiness.pro attempts to provide meaningful assistance, but the information provided in its responses may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. YourBusiness.pro’s assistance is provided without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. In no event shall YourBusiness.pro be liable for any special, incidental, indirect or consequential damages of any kind, or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data or profits, whether or not advised of the possibility of damage, under any theory of liability, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of information provided by way of this assistance program. Please be advised that our editorial staff for the YourBusiness.pro newsletter or any of our other publications may use portions of your question. Your name will not appear without your permission. If you object to our publishing your question, please contact us immediately via email at  cs@YourBusiness.pro.

TO SEE ANOTHER SAMPLE…PLEASE CLICK HERE!

Or

GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED…

Tips for Working with YourBusiness.pro Consulting Team

Write down your question
The Small Business consulting team wants to clearly understand your business questions and requests.  Try to be clear and concise and limit the amount of words to 1,000 or less.

Include detailed background information
Along with your question, please include relevant details and background information for our consultants to use in their research and response.

Contact us if you’re not satisfied
If the response you receive doesn’t address your specific question or if you’re overdue a response, let us know.  Consultants can’t always read between the lines or correctly fill in details that were left out of a question.  If a response to your question seems off base, submit a clarifying question or a statement regarding your concern.

CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US…GET STARTED