The Ultimate List of Successful Business Statistics in 2023 (2024)

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The most important successful business statistics in 2023

There are 32.5 million small businesses in the US. They make up 99.9% of all businesses.
Globally, there are 582 million entrepreneurs.
50% of businesses fail in the first five years.
Some of the most important reasons people start businesses are to be their own bosses, because they’re unhappy with their corporate careers, and to pursue their passion.
The average age of founders is 42.
Older founders are more successful, too. A 50-year old founder is nearly twice as likely to succeed than a 30-year old founder.
Serial entrepreneurs outperform new entrepreneurs with 98% higher sales.
Successful entrepreneurs spend time with their families. 58% spend time with loved ones in the evenings and 55% devote their weekends to them.
Some of the biggest challenges for businesses are a lack of capital or cash flow (23%), recruiting employees (19%), and advertising and marketing (15%).
The biggest reason startups fail is no product-market fit (34%).

Business statistics

How many businesses are there in the world in 2023? How do they get started? And in what industries? Here are the most important small business statistics you need to know.

There are 32.5 million small businesses in the US (99.9% of all businesses).

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US small businesses employed 59.9 million people in 2016.
98% of businesses in the US have fewer than 20 employees.
Most small businesses are self-funded.
Small business owners tend to use $10,000 on starting their businesses.
One-third of non-employer firms use no startup capital at all.
The most popular industries to start a business in are retail (13%), business services (13%), construction and contracting (12%), food and restaurant (9%), and residential and commercial services (9%).
Sagework reports that accounting, tax prep, bookkeeping, and payroll services are the most profitable services at 18.3%.
In 2020, the most profitable industries in the US were, according to Statista:
- Banks
- Broadcasting
- Financial services
- Transportation
- Investments and asset management
- Software
- Real estate
- Semiconductor
- Precious metals
- Information services
- Drugs (pharmaceutical)
- Brokerage and investment banking
43% of US public companies are backed by venture capital.
Around 50% of businesses in the US are home-based.

(Sources: SBA, SBE Council, SBA, SBA, Stanford University, Statista, Inc)

Entrepreneur statistics in 2023

What are the main entrepreneur statistics in 2023? Here’s all you need to know about who ends up starting a business and why.

There are 582 million entrepreneurs in the world, according to a Global Entrepreneurship Monitor survey of 65 global economies.
In the US, the number of residents out of 100,000 who started a business in 2018 were:
- Latino 510/100,000
- Asian 330/100,000
- White 290/100,000
- Black 240/100,000
11.9 million US businesses were women-owned in 2017.
The reason people start businesses is that they think that they have more to offer than what their resumes show and they can make more money by starting a business.
29% of business owners say that their biggest motivation for starting a business is that they’re ready to be their own bosses. 17% were unhappy with their corporate careers, 16% want to pursue their passion, 12% say an opportunity presented itself, 9% had the inspiration for a new business, 7% weren’t ready to retire, and 7% were laid off.

The overall average age of founders is 42. Software startup founders are, on average, 40 years old and oil and gas technology company founders are 47.
According to Guidant Financial, 60% of people who start small businesses are between 40-60 years old.
Millennials start 12% of all businesses. Generation X owns 44% of businesses and Boomers 41%. The silent generation owns 2% of businesses.
34% of small business owners have a high school degree. 28% have a college degree.

(Sources: Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, Statista, Nawbo, Strategic Management Journal, Harvard Business Review, Guidant Financial, Guidant Financial)

Business success rate

What percentage of businesses are successful? And what businesses have the highest success rate? Here are the most important successful business statistics.

Serial entrepreneurs outperform new entrepreneurs with 98% higher sales.
The average founder of the fastest-growing tech companies is 45 years old.
A 50-year old founder is nearly twice as likely to succeed than a 30-year old founder.
B2B buyers say that the most important qualities they look for in business owners they buy from are:
- Taking the time to understand their needs
- Involving them in decisions
- Brainstorming
- Showing useful information
- Showing commitment
- Fulfilling promises
- Adhering to agreed-on principles and standards.

58% of successful entrepreneurs spend time with their loved ones in the evenings. 55% keep their weekends free for loved ones.

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One-third have turned to a mentor or support group.
49% have invested in social media, PR, and advertising.
50% of the world’s 20 most valuable brands were founded between 1950-1999. 20% were founded between 1900-1949 and 25% between 1850-1949.
97.6% of the founders of the most valuable brands were founded by men (which goes to show what the power structures have looked like in business over the past decades).
44.2% of the founders of the world’s most valuable brands were between 20-29 years old at the time they founded their companies. 25.6% were between 30-39, 18.6% between 40-49 and 11.6% between 50-59.
65% of the most valuable brands were founded by co-founders rather than a single founder.
85% have their headquarters in the US. 5% are headquartered in South Korea, 5% in France, and 5% in Japan.
45% of the most valuable brands are in the tech industry. 10% are in clothing, 10% in food, 10% in telecommunications. 5% are conglomerates, 5% in transportation, 5% in financial services, and 5% in retail.
30% of the most valuable brands have a revenue of $50-99 billion, 25% up to $49 billion, 20% between $100-199 billion, 15% between $250-299 billion, 5% between $200-249 billion, and 5% over $300 billion.
60% of the 20 most valuable brands started out as self-funded ventures.
There are 585 dollar billionaires in the US. 55.8% of them are self-made.

(Sources: Stanford University, Kellogg School of Management, Chicago Booth Review, Xero, LuisaZhou.com, Wealth-X)

Business failure rate

How many businesses fail? Do 90% of businesses fail? 50%? Here’s what you need to know about business failure statistics.

Two-thirds of businesses with employees survive at least two years.
Half of businesses survive past five years. In other words, 50% of businesses don’t survive past their first 5 years.

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Downturns have no significant effect on businesses’ survival rate.
34% of startups fail because they don’t have a product-market fit. 22% fail because of marketing problems.18% fail because of team issues.
In another survey, 42% of businesses said they failed because they had no market fit. 29% failed because they ran out of cash. 23% didn’t have the right team. 19% failed because they were outcompeted.
According to Guidant Financial, 23% of small business owners say that their biggest challenge is a lack of capital or cash flow. 19% say it’s recruiting employees, 15% say it’s advertising and marketing, 14% say it’s time management, 13% administrative work, 8% managing/providing benefits, and 7% have other challenges.
45% of business owners say it is moderately or very challenging to generate new business.
Entrepreneurs who have succeeded in the past are no more likely to succeed in the future.
Entrepreneurs who fail with their past ventures are more likely to fail than new entrepreneurs.
14% of entrepreneurs who fail have turned to a mentor or support group.
20% of entrepreneurs who fail have invested in social media, PR, or advertising.

(Sources: SBA, Failory, CBInsights, Statista, Leibniz Information Centre of Economics, Xero, Guidant Financial)

Over to you!

There you have it! Now you know what the most important successful business statistics are.

Did any of these statistics surprise you?

Let me know in the comments below!

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As an expert in online business and entrepreneurship, my extensive knowledge in the field allows me to delve into the comprehensive insights provided in the article "The Ultimate List of Successful Business Statistics in 2023" by Luisa Zhou. With a background in understanding the dynamics of successful ventures, I can confidently discuss and analyze the key concepts covered in this article.

The article begins by emphasizing the staggering number of small businesses in the US, totaling 32.5 million and constituting 99.9% of all businesses. This statistic sets the stage for a discussion on the global entrepreneurial landscape, highlighting that there are 582 million entrepreneurs worldwide. These figures establish the context for the subsequent exploration into the reasons behind business success and failure.

One of the critical factors influencing business outcomes is the age of founders. The data presented underscores that older entrepreneurs, particularly those around 50 years old, exhibit a higher likelihood of success compared to their younger counterparts. Serial entrepreneurs, individuals with experience in launching multiple ventures, also stand out with a remarkable 98% higher sales performance.

The article further delves into the motivations behind starting a business, citing reasons such as the desire for autonomy, dissatisfaction with corporate careers, and the pursuit of passion. Notably, the average age of founders is identified as 42, with a breakdown indicating that individuals between 40-60 years old account for 60% of small business starters.

Understanding the challenges businesses face is crucial, and the article highlights common obstacles, including a lack of capital or cash flow, difficulties in recruiting employees, and challenges in advertising and marketing. Additionally, the concept of product-market fit is emphasized as the most significant reason for startup failures, comprising 34% of cases.

The discussion on business statistics extends to industry trends, with insights into the most profitable sectors such as accounting, tax preparation, and bookkeeping. The article also provides a snapshot of the most lucrative industries in the US, ranging from banks and broadcasting to software and real estate.

Entrepreneurship demographics are explored, revealing that there are 582 million entrepreneurs globally. The article breaks down the entrepreneurial landscape in the US based on ethnicity and gender, offering valuable insights into the diversity of business ownership.

Lastly, the article addresses the success and failure rates of businesses, debunking the myth that 90% of businesses fail. It clarifies that 50% of businesses fail within the first five years, attributing failures to factors like a lack of product-market fit, marketing problems, and team issues.

In conclusion, my expertise in online business and entrepreneurship enables me to affirm the credibility and significance of the statistics presented in the article. The insights provided serve as a valuable resource for individuals looking to navigate the complex landscape of business ownership in 2023.