With so many new applicants each month, the Research team at MAC has compiled a list of interesting facts regarding small business statistics in Canada! We’re so proud to see such morale and continued support towards merchants nationwide and we’re excited to watch their continued growth during the busy springtime season.
Enjoy!
What is the definition of a small business in Canada?
- 1 to 4 employees: Micro-enterprise
- 5 to 100: Small business
- 101 to 499: Medium-sized business
- 500-plus: Large business
How many small businesses are there in Canada?
The total number of registered employer businesses in Canada(businesses with at least one employee on payroll) as of December 2010, the most recent figure available: 1,138,761
How many Canadians work for small businesses?
5,137,147 (48.3 per cent of Canada's total workforce)
How many Canadians are self-employed?
In 2010, 2.7 million Canadians were self-employed.
35 hours: Average work week for employees in 2010
40 hours: Average work week for the self-employed in 2010
Success vs. failure
Largest number of new Canadian small businesses established in one year: Approximately 115,000 in 2005.
How active are small business owners online?
In 2007, the year for which the latest statistics from the Canadian government are available, 85 per cent of small businesses had internet access. 99 per cent of large businesses had internet access.
36 per cent of small businesses had their own websites (compared to91 per cent of large businesses)
What do small businesses contribute to Canada’s total exports?
86 per cent of Canadian exporters were small businesses in 2009.
How much do small businesses contribute to Canada’s GDP?
In 2009, 28 per cent of the country's total GDP came from businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
What will happen to small businesses when the owners retire?
With the baby boomers reaching retirement age, a large number of companies will likely change hands in the coming years. According to TD Waterhouse's early October Business Succession Poll of 609 small business owners, just 24 per cent of small business owners surveyed said they had a succession plan worked out for retirement.
