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The Daily Insight

How much did small businesses make last year?

Author

Ava Robinson

Published Apr 04, 2026

The average small business owner makes $71,813 a year. 86.3% of small business owners make less than $100,000 a year in income. Small business owners who are self-employed by their own incorporated businesses made a median income of $50,347 in 2016.

Are small businesses growing or declining?

Small, independent businesses have declined sharply in both numbers and market share across many sectors of the economy. Starting a new business appears to have become harder than ever. The number of startups launched annually has fallen by nearly half since the 1970s.

Are small businesses dying?

In 2020, big businesses got bigger and small businesses died. Small businesses owners have struggled during the pandemic, with the number of small businesses in the US dropping by 29% since January. Meanwhile, massive companies like Amazon and Walmart have seen their valuations explode by billions of dollars.

Are there any small businesses that stay small?

Most companies that survive, but stay small are operating at level 2. There is nothing wrong with level 2. You can be happy owning a level 1 or a level 2 small business. It takes an entirely different way of thinking to reach level 3.

How long does it take for a small business to open?

The plurality of small businesses today have been opened for a decade or more, with 31 percent of the share. Nineteen percent of small businesses have been operating for a year or less, while another 19 percent have been operating for two to three years.

How old are the majority of small business owners?

Half of small business owners are between 50 and 88 years of age. 2.5 million business owners are veterans of the armed forces. As you can see, anyone can be an owner of a startup!

How often do small businesses close their doors?

Two-thirds of all businesses survive for at least two years, while around 33% survive over ten years. While the competition is certainly stiff, a consistent business plan can help you stay on top of the game and build your company from the ground up. 22) On average, one in 12 businesses closes every year.