Small Business Reference

Small Business Bookkeeping Statistics

Current U.S. figures on small businesses, business formation, staying power, and recordkeeping. Each statistic links to its original source.

Last updated September 15, 2026

Key Statistics

The numbers behind better financial habits.

Use these figures when you need a quick, reliable view of the small-business landscape. Source dates are included because the most useful financial context is current and specific.

33.3 million

small businesses operate in the United States

The Small Business Administration's 2024 profile reports this 2023 total across the country.

U.S. Small Business Administration, 2024 Small Business Profile2023 data

61.7 million

people work for small businesses

That equals 45.9% of U.S. private-sector employees, according to the Small Business Administration.

U.S. Small Business Administration, 2024 Small Business Profile2023 data

531,728

business applications were filed in one month

The Census Bureau counted this seasonally adjusted total in August 2026, a reminder that new businesses continue to enter the market every month.

U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation StatisticsAugust 2026

28,501

projected employer businesses may grow from that monthly cohort

The Census Bureau's high-propensity measure estimates businesses likely to form within four quarters and hire employees.

U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation StatisticsAugust 2026

34.7%

of establishments born in 2013 were still operating in 2023

The 10-year survival figure shows why dependable records and regular financial review become more valuable as a business matures.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Employment DynamicsMay 2024 release, data through 2023

3 years

is the general federal recordkeeping period for many tax returns

The Internal Revenue Service notes that some circumstances require longer retention, so businesses should keep the records that support income and deductions.

Internal Revenue Service, RecordkeepingAccessed September 2026

Sources And Method

Built for accurate quoting.

This page uses publicly available figures from U.S. government sources. Each number is linked to the organization that published it, and the date beside it shows the period the figure represents or the release date.

Cite this page

Ingles Bookkeeping. “Small Business Bookkeeping Statistics.” Updated September 15, 2026. https://inglesbookkeeping.com/resources/small-business-bookkeeping-statistics

Reliable figures are useful. Reliable day-to-day books make them useful in your own business.

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