A small business is defined as a company with fewer than 500 employees. In the U.S., small businesses make up a good majority of our business landscape (99.7% to be exact). These are 10 impressive statistics in regards to small businesses. Look and see how you stack up.

1. There are approximately 28 million small businesses in the US. Even more impressive, 22 million of them are self employed with no additional employees or payroll.
   
   
2. Over 50% of workers work within a small business.
   
   
3. Since 1995 small businesses have produced over 65% of the new jobs.
   
   
4. 52% of small businesses are home based.
   
   
5. 543,000 small businesses get started each month. Disturbingly, a greater amount shut down each month.
   
   
6. Auto repair shops, beauty salons, and dry cleaners comprise the fastest growing sector for freelance businesses.
   
   
7. 50-70% of small businesses fail within the first 18 months.
   
   
8. Small Business Failure Rate by Industry:
   
   Manufacturing: 48.4%
   Services: 47.6%
   Wholesaling & Agriculture: 47.4%
   Retailing: 41.1%
   Finance, Insurance and Real Estate: 39.6%
   Transportation, Communications and Utilities: 39.4%
   Construction: 36.4%
   
   These next statistics refer specifically to non-employer businesses. The U.S. Census Bureau defines a non-employer business as a company that has no paid employees, annual business receipts worth a minimum of $1,000.00, and is subject to federal income taxes.
   
   
9. 75% of all U.S. businesses are non-employer businesses
   
   
10. Non-employers have average revenues of $44,000.00

How did your business stack up against these statistics?

*For more statistics, visit http://www.census.gov