Where New Businesses Are Starting Up

More than half a million new businesses were established over the five-year period that ended in 2012, according to new data released by the Census Bureau that show the types of businesses being created and where they’re opening up.

Among the findings: Several cities registered sizable gains in new businesses, fueled in large part by growth in minority-owned companies. Most local jurisdictions added businesses since the last time the Survey of Business Owners was conducted in 2007, although small firms with no employees account for much of the growth. At the same time, the national tally of firms with paid employees has dropped 5 percent since 2007. (Estimates published from the Survey of Business Owners, conducted once every five years, are current as of 2012 and cover all nonfarm businesses filing IRS tax returns.)

New Orleans, which was only a couple years removed from Hurricane Katrina when the last survey was taken, saw its total number of firms increase by 53 percent -- the top growth of any city with at least 10,000 businesses. Newark, N.J., +38 percent; Memphis, Tenn., +36 percent; and Laredo, Texas, +34 percent, similarly recorded large gains over the five-year period. By comparison, the national tally of all businesses rose 2 percent from 27.1 million in 2007 to 27.6 million in 2012.

What’s behind increases in individual cities could be explained by a number of factors. Some areas, for instance, benefit from strong regional economies or industries that support many small businesses, such as construction and real estate.

This table shows changes in total and racial and ethnic minority-owned businesses between 2007 and 2012 for all cities and towns with at least 10,000 firms:

Jurisdiction	Change in Total Firms (%)	Change in Total Firms	2012 Total Firms Count	Minority Firms Change	2012 Minority Firms Count
New Orleans, LA	52.8%	14,341	41,506	10,073	20,400
Newark, NJ	38.3%	6,316	22,800	6,669	16,113
Memphis, TN	36%	18,761	70,891	21,352	43,949
Laredo, TX	34.1%	6,997	27,517	10,063	24,727
Fort Worth, TX	30.3%	16,634	71,545	15,542	33,952
North Las Vegas, NV	29.5%	2,979	13,070	3,878	7,830
Doral, FL	28.8%	3,305	14,789	3,650	11,499
Moreno Valley, CA	27.4%	2,835	13,199	3,911	10,451
Grand Prairie, TX	27.2%	3,349	15,678	4,091	10,408
St. Louis, MO	27.1%	6,408	30,040	5,409	11,994
Atlanta, GA	26.7%	13,627	64,593	10,838	30,104
Odessa, TX	26.6%	2,382	11,347	1,730	4,731
Cleveland, OH	24.9%	6,505	32,679	7,371	15,729
Carmel, IN	23.8%	2,066	10,750	520	1,045
Orlando, FL	22.8%	6,980	37,544	6,994	17,854
Miami Beach, FL	22.7%	3,621	19,592	3,188	10,115
Richmond, VA	22.4%	3,398	18,539	3,012	6,859
Detroit, MI	22.3%	11,296	61,868	16,433	50,946
Spring Valley, NV	21.9%	3,171	17,658	3,410	7,177
Cary, NC	21.7%	2,659	14,906	1,483	3,446
Rochester, NY	21.2%	2,764	15,783	2,140	5,731
Lancaster, CA	20.7%	2,168	12,627	3,386	8,531
Tamiami, FL	20.4%	1,767	10,440	2,800	9,857
Brownsville, TX	20.4%	2,983	17,628	5,160	15,300
Bridgeport, CT	20.2%	1,757	10,452	1,961	5,505
Jackson, MS	20.1%	3,083	18,459	4,325	11,161
Coral Gables, FL	20%	2,205	13,218	2,417	7,846
Baltimore, MD	20%	8,463	50,735	9,621	27,673
Milwaukee, WI	19.7%	6,248	38,017	8,179	17,809
Charlotte, NC	19.6%	13,428	81,973	13,305	32,449
Downey, CA	19.5%	1,765	10,812	2,794	7,960
Columbus, OH	19.4%	11,040	67,994	8,832	21,926
Boston, MA	19.3%	9,601	59,268	5,413	17,686
Austin, TX	19.2%	15,478	96,048	10,734	28,888
Irving, TX	19.1%	3,561	22,175	4,695	12,389
Houston, TX	18.7%	41,063	260,347	48,759	155,654
Philadelphia, PA	18.5%	16,299	104,439	15,390	48,743
McAllen, TX	18.5%	2,803	17,964	5,042	14,183
Miramar, FL	18.4%	2,668	17,168	4,092	14,729
Shreveport, LA	17.8%	2,969	19,683	3,526	7,228
St. Paul, MN	17.7%	4,080	27,147	2,691	7,001
Dallas, TX	17.6%	21,382	142,658	25,129	65,749
Durham, NC	17.6%	3,192	21,339	2,130	8,303
Jersey City, NJ	17.3%	3,495	23,681	3,583	13,600
Santa Ana, CA	17.3%	3,896	26,432	6,659	17,999
Denver, CO	17.2%	11,597	79,097	6,628	18,049
Elizabeth, NJ	17.2%	1,682	11,483	2,542	7,727
Miami Gardens, FL	16.7%	1,926	13,444	2,613	12,080
Long Beach, CA	16.3%	6,121	43,731	8,723	25,159
Palmdale, CA	16.3%	1,772	12,676	3,559	9,497
Tampa, FL	15.9%	6,149	44,811	6,261	19,799
Alexandria, VA	15.7%	2,379	17,540	1,985	6,304
Huntsville, AL	15.7%	2,283	16,838	1,443	4,380
Portland, OR	15.5%	10,122	75,583	3,470	12,120
Paterson, NJ	15.4%	1,379	10,323	2,474	7,413
Miami, FL	15.4%	13,079	98,222	15,897	77,125
Kissimmee, FL	15.2%	1,387	10,490	2,543	7,482
Dearborn, MI	15.2%	1,384	10,519	-16	1,173
Broken Arrow, OK	15.1%	1,446	10,997	633	2,176
Arlington, TX	14.8%	4,633	35,988	5,898	17,485
Inglewood, CA	14.7%	1,362	10,598	2,429	9,307
Warren, MI	14.5%	1,467	11,614	1,567	2,812
Alhambra, CA	14.4%	1,338	10,635	2,141	9,059
Midland, TX	14.4%	1,984	15,775	1,961	4,942
Deerfield Beach, FL	14.3%	1,439	11,470	918	4,243
Portland, ME	14.1%	1,238	10,028	253	684
Boynton Beach, FL	14.1%	1,245	10,088	612	3,549
Akron, OH	14%	2,007	16,308	1,966	4,488
Chicago, IL	13.9%	35,548	291,007	41,359	140,109
Minneapolis, MN	13.8%	5,431	44,702	3,396	9,311
Oakland, CA	13.8%	5,417	44,799	5,758	22,217
Frisco, TX	13.7%	1,590	13,188	949	3,554
Dayton, OH	13.6%	1,236	10,307	1,240	3,664
Washington, DC	13.5%	7,521	63,408	7,478	29,983
Wilmington, NC	13.2%	1,743	14,935	598	2,022
Pasadena, TX	13.2%	1,369	11,734	2,422	7,250
Anaheim, CA	13.1%	3,433	29,541	5,404	17,152
Sunnyvale, CA	13.1%	1,462	12,588	1,308	6,504
Columbus, GA	12.9%	1,992	17,405	2,582	9,331
West Palm Beach, FL	12.8%	2,000	17,657	1,769	7,311
Seattle, WA	12.6%	9,326	83,323	4,144	16,547
Bethesda, MD	12.4%	1,178	10,713	545	1,826
Troy, MI	12.1%	1,297	11,973	515	2,109
McKinney, TX	11.8%	1,345	12,723	952	3,185
Burbank, CA	11.8%	1,850	17,587	1,053	5,313
Fargo, ND	11.7%	1,191	11,347	244	552
Irvine, CA	11.6%	3,325	31,874	3,835	12,867
Pomona, CA	11.6%	1,191	11,452	2,673	8,758
Metairie, LA	11.6%	1,899	18,274	1,387	3,702
Arlington, VA	11.5%	2,243	21,665	1,857	6,403
New York, NY	11.3%	106,832	1,050,911	135,635	539,447
Raleigh, NC	11.3%	4,455	43,895	3,664	13,214
Torrance, CA	11.2%	1,958	19,410	2,320	9,742
San Francisco, CA	11.2%	11,773	116,803	11,172	46,128
Buffalo, NY	11%	1,504	15,178	2,253	4,915
Madison, WI	10.9%	2,041	20,714	1,230	2,799
Worcester, MA	10.9%	1,287	13,085	1,108	3,775
Fontana, CA	10.8%	1,360	13,990	3,207	11,301
Los Angeles, CA	10.7%	47,949	497,999	66,563	247,710
Nashville, TN	10.6%	6,560	68,228	5,063	16,382
Phoenix, AZ	10.6%	11,841	124,033	18,635	39,596
Delray Beach, FL	10.5%	973	10,267	823	2,780
Ontario, CA	10.4%	1,340	14,177	2,717	9,516
Kansas City, MO	10.2%	3,668	39,486	3,047	9,979
Greensboro, NC	10.1%	2,438	26,499	2,722	9,316
Lafayette, LA	10.1%	1,579	17,238	646	3,692
Lakewood, CO	10%	1,482	16,299	973	2,611
Hollywood, FL	9.9%	2,073	23,095	3,863	11,652
Pompano Beach, FL	9.7%	1,399	15,866	1,792	5,856
Omaha, NE	9.7%	3,321	37,664	3,365	6,644
Edison, NJ	9.6%	887	10,165	1,287	5,032
Jacksonville, FL	9.5%	6,091	70,192	10,313	27,446
Providence, RI	9.5%	1,457	16,852	2,311	6,705
Plantation, FL	9.3%	1,162	13,674	1,617	5,727
Fort Collins, CO	9.2%	1,378	16,299	599	1,554
Garland, TX	9.2%	1,813	21,545	3,752	12,218
Skokie, IL	9.1%	845	10,120	789	2,973
Fort Lauderdale, FL	9.1%	2,746	32,917	3,343	11,096
Gilbert, AZ	8.9%	1,526	18,623	824	3,556
Hialeah, FL	8.9%	3,938	48,274	8,037	45,245
San Jose, CA	8.8%	6,279	77,832	11,363	45,686
Pasadena, CA	8.7%	1,585	19,718	2,083	8,935
Indianapolis, IN	8.7%	5,572	69,366	7,936	18,991
Costa Mesa, CA	8.7%	1,256	15,768	1,072	4,231
Des Moines, IA	8.6%	1,314	16,543	1,483	3,000
Orem, UT	8.6%	817	10,304	388	991
Highlands Ranch, CO	8.5%	794	10,184	595	1,210
Greenville, SC	8.4%	790	10,161	657	1,592
Aurora, IL	8.3%	940	12,296	1,270	4,768
Orange, CA	8.3%	1,284	16,845	1,815	6,121
Sunrise, FL	8%	912	12,306	1,638	7,255
Riverside, CA	7.7%	1,712	24,046	2,855	12,088
San Antonio, TX	7.7%	8,360	117,546	20,257	71,287
Fayetteville, NC	7.5%	967	13,904	1,689	6,377
Peoria, AZ	7.5%	837	12,060	812	2,624
Edinburg, TX	7.4%	694	10,124	1,989	8,860
Chandler, AZ	7.3%	1,410	20,607	1,951	5,531
Cambridge, MA	7.2%	879	13,156	658	2,527
Hayward, CA	7%	715	10,978	1,373	6,869
Little Rock, AR	6.9%	1,352	20,934	1,497	5,552
Fresno, CA	6.9%	2,280	35,334	6,906	19,484
Toledo, OH	6.8%	1,131	17,685	1,636	4,539
Farmington Hills, MI	6.7%	671	10,728	632	2,297
Garden Grove, CA	6.6%	1,120	18,055	2,234	13,490
Aurora, CO	6.6%	1,565	25,404	3,748	9,868
Lower Merion, PA	6.4%	635	10,580	5	847
Mobile, AL	6.4%	1,203	20,118	3,162	8,808
Mesquite, TX	6.3%	643	10,880	1,664	5,802
Sacramento, CA	6.3%	2,254	38,244	4,659	18,062
Coral Springs, FL	6.2%	1,054	18,015	1,908	8,101
Norfolk, VA	6.2%	892	15,322	2,334	6,119
Yonkers, NY	6.1%	1,073	18,586	2,880	9,379
Sugar Land, TX	6%	658	11,648	1,107	5,777
Boulder, CO	5.9%	994	17,756	458	1,250
Glendale, AZ	5.7%	905	16,783	2,936	6,249
Glendale, CA	5.6%	1,551	29,153	678	8,293
Kendall, FL	5.6%	676	12,802	745	7,927
Corpus Christi, TX	5.5%	1,419	27,416	3,942	14,189
Escondido, CA	5.4%	635	12,332	1,312	4,675
Carrollton, TX	5.4%	730	14,345	1,929	6,292
El Paso, TX	5.3%	2,800	55,697	9,587	43,311
Overland Park, KS	5.2%	1,026	20,703	283	2,164
Lubbock, TX	5.1%	984	20,334	1,228	4,691
Weston, FL	5%	507	10,733	934	5,933
Baton Rouge, LA	4.9%	1,219	25,952	3,517	12,354
Beaumont, TX	4.9%	482	10,419	1,029	4,605
Sterling Heights, MI	4.8%	506	11,007	338	1,764
Ann Arbor, MI	4.7%	541	11,982	272	1,791
Sarasota, FL	4.5%	435	10,131	545	1,740
Vancouver, WA	4.3%	583	14,222	739	2,091
Henderson, NV	4.3%	1,060	25,906	1,099	6,002
Bellevue, WA	4.2%	675	16,841	1,092	4,248
Columbia, MD	4.2%	426	10,644	236	3,871
Lincoln, NE	4.1%	896	22,687	579	2,092
Grand Rapids, MI	4.1%	632	16,153	1,114	4,056
San Diego, CA	4%	5,235	135,754	11,816	50,762
Columbia, MO	4%	405	10,543	358	1,083
Encinitas, CA	4%	395	10,307	212	1,575
Oklahoma City, OK	4%	2,248	58,815	6,537	16,273
Salt Lake City, UT	3.7%	884	24,710	1,366	3,327
Santa Barbara, CA	3.7%	517	14,520	679	2,936
San Buenaventura, CA	3.7%	419	11,799	678	2,707
Marietta, GA	3.5%	354	10,501	702	4,286
Syracuse, NY	3.4%	331	10,201	1,101	3,047
Winston-Salem, NC	3.3%	600	18,681	1,767	6,071
Birmingham, AL	3.3%	657	20,738	2,238	10,605
Beverly Hills, CA	3.3%	486	15,383	217	2,270
Newport Beach, CA	3.2%	591	18,935	399	2,432
Southfield, MI	3.2%	330	10,720	1,404	5,305
Wichita, KS	3.2%	955	31,140	1,951	5,635
Modesto, CA	3.1%	419	13,728	1,651	5,115
Carlsbad, CA	3.1%	454	14,896	412	2,605
Franklin, TN	3.1%	300	10,003	287	863
Stockton, CA	3.1%	504	16,992	1,848	10,373
Oxnard, CA	2.7%	302	11,421	1,625	7,430
Davie, FL	2.7%	335	12,676	1,929	5,796
Pembroke Pines, FL	2.7%	508	19,373	2,742	13,351
Las Vegas, NV	2.4%	1,299	55,856	6,587	20,822
Columbia, SC	2.4%	303	13,080	1,252	4,170
Mesa, AZ	2.3%	730	33,113	3,006	7,129
Fort Wayne, IN	1.8%	366	20,502	2,318	4,117
Islip, NY	1.8%	511	28,753	3,023	8,433
Virginia Beach, VA	1.7%	591	35,359	2,358	8,893
Port St. Lucie, FL	1.6%	246	15,998	653	5,939
Silver Spring, MD	1.5%	148	10,173	992	5,196
Tempe, AZ	1.5%	245	17,037	1,208	3,326
Cincinnati, OH	1.4%	364	26,855	2,723	8,641
Rancho Cucamonga, CA	1.4%	213	15,737	1,660	7,902
Newport News, VA	1.3%	143	10,889	1,299	4,523
Naperville, IL	0.9%	136	14,458	866	3,018
Mount Pleasant, SC	0.9%	92	10,053	318	746
Pittsburgh, PA	0.9%	211	24,792	1,137	4,469
Santa Rosa, CA	0.6%	107	16,588	671	3,471
Stamford, CT	0.5%	79	16,914	1,345	4,702
Richardson, TX	0.4%	50	12,990	1,109	4,065
Sioux Falls, SD	0.1%	18	15,083	350	885
Asheville, NC	0.1%	12	12,785	442	1,247
West Hollywood, CA	-0.1%	-13	10,628	-42	1,953
St. Petersburg, FL	-0.2%	-60	25,545	2,930	7,635
Santa Monica, CA	-0.5%	-106	23,153	780	4,669
Paradise, NV	-0.5%	-97	20,828	2,458	6,547
Tallahassee, FL	-0.5%	-77	15,714	691	4,565
Chula Vista, CA	-0.7%	-129	17,409	1,839	12,286
Chesapeake, VA	-0.9%	-147	16,220	1,377	5,419
Cape Coral, FL	-1.1%	-195	18,281	1,170	5,681
Tucson, AZ	-1.1%	-476	41,619	5,576	15,342
Scottsdale, AZ	-1.3%	-479	36,625	1,250	3,440
Bend, OR	-1.7%	-198	11,690	131	729
Temecula, CA	-1.8%	-189	10,358	324	2,790
Westminster, CA	-2%	-232	11,329	1,293	8,714
Plano, TX	-2.2%	-686	30,567	2,634	10,098
Mission Viejo, CA	-2.2%	-262	11,441	167	2,840
Reno, NV	-2.3%	-507	21,577	759	3,616
Fremont, CA	-2.4%	-456	18,784	2,010	12,690
Norwalk, CT	-2.4%	-278	11,380	588	2,796
Santa Clarita, CA	-2.4%	-426	17,375	1,560	5,865
Anchorage, AK	-2.6%	-693	26,033	959	5,351
Sandy Springs, GA	-2.7%	-355	12,980	1,414	3,704
Billings, MT	-2.7%	-321	11,376	67	560
Sandy, UT	-2.8%	-312	10,908	226	792
Tyler, TX	-2.9%	-323	10,721	312	2,417
Tulsa, OK	-3%	-1,232	39,908	3,177	9,216
Knoxville, TN	-3.5%	-689	19,158	236	2,913
Newton, MA	-3.7%	-532	13,744	820	2,108
Santa Clara, CA	-3.7%	-426	10,985	66	5,366
Norman, OK	-3.8%	-443	11,365	438	1,709
San Mateo, CA	-3.8%	-425	10,835	547	4,185
Colorado Springs, CO	-3.9%	-1,595	39,424	1,711	6,380
Arvada, CO	-4%	-456	10,959	284	1,287
Fullerton, CA	-4%	-506	12,133	1,223	6,328
Berkeley, CA	-4%	-640	15,292	471	3,681
Hempstead, NY	-4.1%	-2,287	53,313	3,126	16,169
Salem, OR	-4.2%	-538	12,341	659	2,109
Tacoma, WA	-4.5%	-648	13,703	420	3,324
Roseville, CA	-4.5%	-514	10,807	229	2,252
Boise City, ID	-4.9%	-1,204	23,407	761	1,959
Babylon, NY	-4.9%	-818	15,845	1,243	4,973
Albuquerque, NM	-4.9%	-2,188	42,272	3,032	16,511
Boca Raton, FL	-5%	-1,017	19,486	288	3,254
Huntington, NY	-5%	-1,307	24,909	617	3,835
Elk Grove, CA	-5.6%	-704	11,816	658	6,422
Thousand Oaks, CA	-6%	-1,079	17,027	1,225	3,642
Montgomery, AL	-6%	-1,160	18,043	896	8,793
Clearwater, FL	-6.2%	-824	12,488	840	2,509
Roswell, GA	-6.3%	-785	11,594	761	2,552
Chattanooga, TN	-6.4%	-1,117	16,348	68	3,574
Simi Valley, CA	-6.5%	-855	12,333	738	3,857
Eugene, OR	-6.5%	-1,088	15,555	466	1,556
Huntington Beach, CA	-6.7%	-1,636	22,860	1,601	6,872
Springfield, MO	-7.2%	-1,240	15,978	438	1,393
Amarillo, TX	-7.4%	-1,386	17,343	1,463	4,750
Savannah, GA	-7.6%	-1,041	12,676	126	5,094
Spokane, WA	-8%	-1,450	16,564	469	1,462
Santa Fe, NM	-8.4%	-1,142	12,396	226	3,094
Centennial, CO	-8.6%	-1,200	12,789	-45	1,183
Smithtown, NY	-10.5%	-1,481	12,592	-216	1,147
Brookhaven, NY	-11.4%	-4,559	35,319	911	6,500
Oyster Bay, NY	-13%	-4,654	31,012	990	6,142
Edmond, OK	-13.5%	-1,708	10,967	156	1,378
Corona, CA	-21.3%	-3,696	13,644	-709	6,517
North Hempstead, NY	-24.1%	-5,514	17,385	320	4,933

NOTE: Minority businesses are owned by those not identified as Non-Hispanic white.
SOURCE: Governing analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2012 Survey of Business Owners, 2007 Survey of Business Owners
Interestingly, much of the growth stems from new minority-owned firms, the vast majority of which are self-employed individuals operating unincorporated businesses. The number of black-owned firms grew about 34 percent, while Asian-owned firms climbed 24 percent from 2007 levels, according to national Census estimates. An even larger increase -- 46 percent -- was recorded for Hispanic firms, prevalent in places like El Paso and Miami. Data suggests Hispanic-owned businesses are overrepresented in certain industries, such as the sector that encompasses administrative support, waste management and remediation services.

In addition, the number of businesses owned by women climbed 27 percent to nearly 10 million in 2012. These firms, the vast majority of which are without paid employees, currently account for just over a third of all businesses nationally and are most prevalent in the health care and educational services sectors.

Veteran-owned businesses also increased 3 percent from 2007. They account for about 9 percent of all U.S. firms.

For non-Hispanic whites, the 2012 estimates suggest a loss of 1.1 million firms nationally, or a decline of 6 percent. This is most likely due to a survey methodology change, however. In the 2007 survey, respondents writing in Hispanic or Latino ethnicity in the race write-in boxes were categorized as "white." In the latest survey, the Census Bureau treated these responses as "some other race." As a result, the total number of firms for the "some other race" category jumped from 80,777 in 2007 to 1,174,340 in 2012.

The tally of total businesses alone, though, isn't the best gauge of how a local economy might be expanding. It's important to note that only about one-fifth of all businesses reported having paid employees. Most of the new businesses are small firms operated by self-employed individuals, providing them with a primary or secondary source of income. The Census Bureau's estimated count of these nonemployer firms climbed 4 percent from 2007 to 2012, while the number of businesses with paid employees actually declined 5 percent.

One explanation for the difference is that the 2007 survey occurred just before the official start of the Great Recession, while the latest snapshot of business ownership was taken at a time when the national unemployment rate still topped 8 percent. Some nonemployer firms likely reflect self-employed individuals who couldn't find jobs and started small businesses to make up for lost income.

At the local level, a review of the data show that a slight majority of larger cities lost businesses with paid employees, with the decline averaging -1.6 percent over the five-year period. Phoenix, hit hard in the housing market crash, lost an estimated 3,578 employers, the most of any city.

McKinney, Texas, (+49 percent) and Frisco, Texas, (+38 percent) -- two of the nation’s fastest growing cities -- recorded the steepest percentage increases in total employers. Austin added an impressive 1,800 employers over the five-year period, and several cities home to many retirees also saw notable increases in new businesses.

This table compares 2007 and 2012 estimated total and minority ownership for only businesses that reported employing paid workers:

Jurisdiction	Change in Total Firms (%)	Change in Total Firms	2012 Total Firms Count	Minority Firms Change	2012 Minority Firms Count
Phoenix, AZ	-12.5%	-3,578	25,107	158	3,340
Los Angeles, CA	-2.9%	-2,699	89,209	219	27,352
North Hempstead, NY	-24.4%	-1,562	4,847	98	1,069
Tucson, AZ	-13.4%	-1,465	9,483	-186	1,368
San Diego, CA	-4.3%	-1,385	31,052	1,291	7,721
Indianapolis, IN	-7.4%	-1,222	15,252	231	1,584
Oyster Bay, NY	-11.4%	-1,133	8,781	66	1,086
Jacksonville, FL	-6.5%	-1,132	16,342	395	2,525
Detroit, MI	-13.3%	-1,051	6,842	-154	1,435
Fresno, CA	-11.4%	-1,030	8,000	10	2,293
Akron, OH	-24.9%	-970	2,926	43	207
Cincinnati, OH	-13.8%	-919	5,723	43	486
Birmingham, AL	-15.5%	-911	4,972	70	616
Cleveland, OH	-11%	-877	7,106	-54	744
Clearwater, FL	-21.4%	-872	3,210	-66	391
Brookhaven, NY	-9.3%	-867	8,414	455	1,358
Long Beach, CA	-12.6%	-867	6,002	72	1,895
Huntington Beach, CA	-14.9%	-835	4,787	18	1,072
Reno, NV	-11.9%	-827	6,150	-13	663
Oakland, CA	-9.3%	-785	7,666	316	2,982
Baltimore, MD	-7.3%	-761	9,632	14	2,337
Syracuse, NY	-18.8%	-658	2,835	-5	226
Santa Rosa, CA	-14.1%	-652	3,982	-9	637
Virginia Beach, VA	-6.8%	-650	8,842	-22	1,197
Memphis, TN	-5.7%	-636	10,520	336	1,693
Knoxville, TN	-10.2%	-618	5,467	56	357
Bend, OR	-16%	-610	3,212	-1	150
Chula Vista, CA	-17.2%	-596	2,861	-311	1,232
Nashville, TN	-4.4%	-582	12,741	290	1,548
Silver Spring, MD	-24.9%	-582	1,752	-136	544
Corpus Christi, TX	-9.2%	-573	5,643	322	1,691
Corona, CA	-15.3%	-563	3,109	-25	909
Escondido, CA	-17.9%	-549	2,512	230	550
Lubbock, TX	-9.9%	-539	4,887	-125	416
Boise City, ID	-7.9%	-534	6,268	101	397
Toledo, OH	-11.1%	-529	4,245	69	402
Grand Rapids, MI	-12.8%	-518	3,518	-1	272
Glendale, AZ	-13.8%	-514	3,216	15	532
Columbus, OH	-4%	-502	11,902	236	1,481
Warren, MI	-16.1%	-500	2,597	34	190
Scottsdale, AZ	-4.9%	-499	9,621	134	668
Tacoma, WA	-10.4%	-486	4,171	-50	682
Eugene, OR	-10.4%	-480	4,128	48	291
Santa Ana, CA	-7%	-473	6,307	440	2,364
Tempe, AZ	-7.9%	-472	5,472	170	660
Babylon, NY	-8.6%	-470	5,013	276	820
Chattanooga, TN	-8.6%	-466	4,943	207	580
Albuquerque, NM	-4%	-459	11,003	53	2,350
Sterling Heights, MI	-18%	-458	2,093	-119	110
Columbia, SC	-11%	-454	3,671	8	390
Paradise, NV	-5.8%	-440	7,124	255	1,216
Savannah, GA	-11.1%	-440	3,535	-35	494
Deerfield Beach, FL	-16%	-440	2,312	-25	356
Greensboro, NC	-6.4%	-432	6,284	-26	777
Pittsburgh, PA	-5.5%	-431	7,341	-10	551
Springfield, MO	-7.8%	-418	4,938	195	400
Tulsa, OK	-3.7%	-414	10,769	344	1,329
Modesto, CA	-11.7%	-411	3,088	277	835
Mesa, AZ	-5.2%	-402	7,257	267	917
Beaumont, TX	-12%	-398	2,910	-26	482
Southfield, MI	-10.2%	-397	3,487	142	774
Dayton, OH	-14.5%	-393	2,320	86	334
Spokane, WA	-7.2%	-392	5,021	141	390
Richardson, TX	-10.8%	-391	3,237	255	852
Richmond, VA	-7.7%	-385	4,586	118	792
Hollywood, FL	-8.4%	-384	4,175	230	1,023
Coral Springs, FL	-9.6%	-384	3,630	-1	687
Stockton, CA	-9.4%	-375	3,599	225	1,419
Santa Fe, NM	-10.8%	-371	3,077	-88	496
Lincoln, NE	-6.4%	-367	5,367	28	275
Newport News, VA	-11.5%	-360	2,769	-113	419
Wichita, KS	-4.4%	-355	7,753	77	807
Jackson, MS	-9%	-354	3,566	35	553
Norwalk, CT	-13.3%	-350	2,281	62	273
Stamford, CT	-8.5%	-349	3,771	232	591
Brownsville, TX	-12.3%	-333	2,384	41	1,437
Lancaster, CA	-16.9%	-330	1,626	Unavailable	524
Tallahassee, FL	-6.6%	-328	4,631	17	511
Las Vegas, NV	-3%	-327	10,742	380	2,051
St. Petersburg, FL	-5.5%	-326	5,630	129	713
Baton Rouge, LA	-5%	-324	6,120	133	822
Riverside, CA	-5.9%	-320	5,094	18	1,391
Garden Grove, CA	-9.8%	-316	2,918	190	1,580
Norfolk, VA	-7.6%	-314	3,820	104	548
Costa Mesa, CA	-7%	-310	4,094	190	895
Cape Coral, FL	-9.2%	-308	3,058	-49	400
Fort Wayne, IN	-5.2%	-305	5,545	203	491
Milwaukee, WI	-3.4%	-294	8,275	230	1,593
Fayetteville, NC	-7.9%	-294	3,451	-1	551
Marietta, GA	-8.8%	-288	2,979	-147	345
Minneapolis, MN	-3%	-287	9,209	93	885
Metairie, LA	-6.5%	-286	4,124	36	324
Madison, WI	-5.5%	-281	4,811	74	358
Hayward, CA	-8.7%	-278	2,900	238	1,247
Arvada, CO	-11.3%	-276	2,165	76	170
Columbus, GA	-7.8%	-262	3,117	-74	407
Sandy Springs, GA	-7%	-257	3,426	35	391
Aurora, CO	-5.4%	-256	4,525	88	859
Winston-Salem, NC	-5.4%	-248	4,375	-31	479
Roswell, GA	-7.3%	-246	3,107	93	373
Shreveport, LA	-5.2%	-244	4,490	132	470
Peoria, AZ	-10.5%	-236	2,018	32	291
San Antonio, TX	-1.1%	-235	20,608	1,047	7,311
Elizabeth, NJ	-10.2%	-235	2,067	-24	677
Mobile, AL	-4.9%	-223	4,332	74	389
Jersey City, NJ	-5.4%	-222	3,856	206	1,578
San Jose, CA	-1.3%	-216	15,947	861	7,009
Mount Pleasant, SC	-9.3%	-215	2,105	64	169
Ontario, CA	-5.9%	-211	3,386	57	1,231
Santa Clara, CA	-5.2%	-201	3,629	-210	1,372
Pompano Beach, FL	-4.7%	-198	4,031	-48	598
Ann Arbor, MI	-7.4%	-195	2,455	-37	228
Downey, CA	-10.3%	-193	1,681	82	636
Sarasota, FL	-6.2%	-192	2,911	-21	212
Colorado Springs, CO	-1.9%	-190	9,861	56	814
Thousand Oaks, CA	-4.2%	-190	4,289	191	741
Islip, NY	-2.1%	-178	8,132	575	1,432
Westminster, CA	-8.6%	-177	1,884	Unavailable	1,024
Norman, OK	-6.7%	-174	2,411	102	265
Beverly Hills, CA	-3%	-170	5,500	-156	645
Edinburg, TX	-11.5%	-168	1,291	46	760
Davie, FL	-5.7%	-165	2,726	66	637
Kissimmee, FL	-9%	-164	1,653	-20	608
Lower Merion, PA	-6.9%	-161	2,168	104	188
Lakewood, CO	-3.5%	-153	4,216	71	424
Worcester, MA	-4.3%	-147	3,274	69	357
Paterson, NJ	-6.7%	-147	2,032	58	744
El Paso, TX	-1.5%	-144	9,202	795	5,202
Huntington, NY	-1.8%	-132	7,118	263	810
Santa Barbara, CA	-3.4%	-129	3,716	0	499
Omaha, NE	-1.2%	-128	10,126	159	581
Salem, OR	-3.3%	-127	3,725	99	386
Roseville, CA	-3.8%	-116	2,920	Unavailable	573
Salt Lake City, UT	-1.4%	-105	7,262	106	513
Hialeah, FL	-2%	-104	5,059	638	3,989
Newport Beach, CA	-1.8%	-102	5,576	113	662
Temecula, CA	-3.3%	-95	2,744	169	428
Sandy, UT	-3.2%	-86	2,566	48	162
Coral Gables, FL	-1.8%	-74	3,964	Unavailable	1,937
Berkeley, CA	-2.2%	-74	3,282	-79	636
Tamiami, FL	-7.6%	-74	899	80	722
Centennial, CO	-2.1%	-72	3,313	24	187
Tampa, FL	-0.6%	-69	11,016	233	2,516
Fullerton, CA	-2.4%	-68	2,755	155	1,081
Pembroke Pines, FL	-2%	-64	3,203	216	1,291
Montgomery, AL	-1.5%	-62	3,976	180	595
Anaheim, CA	-0.8%	-58	6,838	348	2,432
Yonkers, NY	-1.7%	-58	3,438	246	802
Pomona, CA	-2.6%	-57	2,178	38	960
San Mateo, CA	-1.9%	-55	2,808	195	739
Overland Park, KS	-0.9%	-53	5,526	185	477
Boynton Beach, FL	-2.4%	-52	2,077	-53	289
Wilmington, NC	-1.2%	-51	4,160	143	308
Simi Valley, CA	-1.6%	-46	2,823	-146	407
Sunrise, FL	-1.8%	-45	2,392	69	635
Skokie, IL	-2.1%	-45	2,129	129	308
Alexandria, VA	-1.2%	-44	3,664	81	745
Anchorage, AK	-0.6%	-42	6,905	168	899
Sioux Falls, SD	-0.9%	-37	4,125	-51	89
Washington, DC	-0.2%	-33	13,913	219	3,744
Elk Grove, CA	-1.8%	-33	1,756	108	511
Santa Clarita, CA	-0.9%	-31	3,418	31	656
Troy, MI	-0.6%	-25	4,146	94	511
Inglewood, CA	-1.5%	-25	1,592	191	910
Santa Monica, CA	-0.2%	-12	5,988	131	882
Boulder, CO	0%	-1	4,852	20	254
Dearborn, MI	0.2%	4	2,353	-58	137
Vancouver, WA	0.2%	8	3,989	15	374
Providence, RI	0.2%	9	4,132	52	449
Newton, MA	0.4%	10	2,810	156	325
Bridgeport, CT	0.6%	11	1,969	-82	235
Bethesda, MD	0.5%	14	2,765	40	409
Aurora, IL	0.5%	14	2,637	140	666
Burbank, CA	0.4%	16	3,821	95	840
Orem, UT	0.7%	19	2,693	29	102
Billings, MT	0.5%	19	3,743	-47	94
Arlington, TX	0.4%	21	5,533	440	1,359
St. Louis, MO	0.3%	23	6,903	92	1,310
Cambridge, MA	0.9%	27	3,068	94	413
Little Rock, AR	0.4%	27	6,235	157	592
Port St. Lucie, FL	1.4%	32	2,334	19	366
Fargo, ND	1%	34	3,362	51	124
Durham, NC	0.8%	38	4,756	126	867
Mesquite, TX	2.3%	39	1,729	49	430
Smithtown, NY	1.1%	42	3,882	68	290
Fontana, CA	2.8%	47	1,729	224	892
West Palm Beach, FL	1.1%	48	4,376	106	734
Newark, NJ	1.2%	54	4,537	51	1,409
Carrollton, TX	2%	58	2,920	132	615
Laredo, TX	1.4%	59	4,144	627	2,914
Lafayette, LA	1.4%	66	4,853	-55	328
Garland, TX	2.5%	74	3,094	167	880
Des Moines, IA	2%	74	3,725	3	203
Carlsbad, CA	2.3%	81	3,607	14	384
Miami, FL	0.6%	84	15,211	580	7,961
Edison, NJ	2.8%	92	3,403	504	1,559
Miami Gardens, FL	7.5%	93	1,330	3	559
Palmdale, CA	8.6%	96	1,218	83	306
Farmington Hills, MI	3.1%	96	3,144	112	362
Moreno Valley, CA	7.6%	97	1,368	253	654
Oxnard, CA	3.7%	97	2,691	207	1,145
Bellevue, WA	1.8%	105	5,994	460	1,275
Boca Raton, FL	1.7%	105	6,254	92	764
Sacramento, CA	1.2%	108	9,162	278	2,626
Edmond, OK	4.6%	112	2,543	73	229
Huntsville, AL	3%	137	4,741	41	551
Pasadena, TX	8.6%	142	1,785	44	508
Miramar, FL	9.9%	143	1,586	220	802
Tyler, TX	4.6%	144	3,260	Unavailable	318
Glendale, CA	2.8%	149	5,522	35	1,106
Chicago, IL	0.3%	158	48,499	2,543	11,663
McAllen, TX	4.3%	159	3,821	619	2,289
Highlands Ranch, CO	9.4%	161	1,874	26	186
Encinitas, CA	6.9%	164	2,544	-106	301
Raleigh, NC	1.6%	165	10,774	90	1,265
Rancho Cucamonga, CA	4.8%	172	3,750	271	1,123
Broken Arrow, OK	9.6%	173	1,975	Unavailable	213
Irving, TX	3.9%	176	4,726	237	1,305
Portland, ME	6.2%	181	3,081	-35	89
Fort Lauderdale, FL	2%	182	9,468	192	1,298
Fremont, CA	4.3%	184	4,499	691	2,490
Arlington, VA	4.8%	193	4,218	125	881
Henderson, NV	4%	195	5,076	163	796
Kendall, FL	7.3%	201	2,969	-183	957
Buffalo, NY	4.4%	204	4,873	183	584
Grand Prairie, TX	10%	205	2,258	315	718
Franklin, TN	8.5%	205	2,625	54	185
Doral, FL	4.9%	213	4,560	553	2,914
North Las Vegas, NV	13.1%	218	1,886	174	380
Oklahoma City, OK	1.6%	228	14,488	347	1,763
Midland, TX	7.4%	232	3,384	Unavailable	426
Chandler, AZ	5.8%	237	4,317	228	754
Plantation, FL	7.9%	244	3,334	73	825
Naperville, IL	6%	245	4,357	419	811
Columbia, MO	9%	265	3,219	53	195
Cary, NC	8%	268	3,629	173	587
Kansas City, MO	3.1%	274	9,034	209	1,060
Mission Viejo, CA	11.7%	275	2,634	133	514
Weston, FL	13.4%	276	2,331	284	926
Fort Worth, TX	2.8%	295	10,711	674	2,066
Asheville, NC	8.5%	296	3,793	22	155
Alhambra, CA	18.7%	304	1,934	374	1,352
Orange, CA	6.5%	307	5,026	298	1,045
Fort Collins, CO	8%	309	4,175	66	255
West Hollywood, CA	12.7%	309	2,734	-46	346
Delray Beach, FL	13.8%	329	2,705	131	311
Amarillo, TX	8.6%	350	4,436	77	543
St. Paul, MN	6.7%	351	5,596	192	606
Torrance, CA	6.8%	382	5,988	435	2,349
Odessa, TX	18.9%	386	2,432	138	532
Gilbert, AZ	12.6%	417	3,715	198	433
Columbia, MD	15.9%	417	3,043	236	783
Rochester, NY	11.1%	439	4,389	305	603
New Orleans, LA	6.9%	455	7,042	314	1,256
Carmel, IN	19.8%	466	2,820	109	211
Greenville, SC	13.3%	466	3,969	132	330
Hempstead, NY	3.9%	472	12,708	596	2,223
San Buenaventura, CA	15.5%	474	3,527	267	561
Chesapeake, VA	11.8%	476	4,520	339	774
Sugar Land, TX	20.9%	488	2,818	427	1,110
Orlando, FL	5.9%	528	9,547	407	1,832
Spring Valley, NV	18.6%	548	3,494	250	728
Seattle, WA	2.7%	554	21,283	591	3,529
Philadelphia, PA	2.8%	570	20,933	1,152	5,399
Sunnyvale, CA	22.4%	592	3,232	608	1,463
Boston, MA	4.6%	617	13,947	346	2,228
Plano, TX	10%	627	6,919	559	1,791
Denver, CO	3.6%	633	18,164	285	2,245
Dallas, TX	2.4%	647	27,067	750	5,776
Frisco, TX	38%	653	2,370	272	513
Miami Beach, FL	22.3%	666	3,656	680	1,361
Charlotte, NC	4.1%	669	17,109	628	2,562
Portland, OR	4.2%	752	18,606	647	2,297
McKinney, TX	49.2%	767	2,327	Unavailable	308
Pasadena, CA	16.5%	771	5,449	418	1,662
Irvine, CA	9.2%	801	9,522	1,301	2,915
Atlanta, GA	8.2%	1,047	13,871	296	2,563
San Francisco, CA	4.6%	1,169	26,525	1,080	8,230
Houston, TX	2.8%	1,366	49,541	3,630	16,351
Austin, TX	9.9%	1,811	20,194	798	3,662
New York, NY	4.8%	8,848	194,038	12,601	60,053

Data shown for jurisdictions with 10,000 or more total firms. Minority businesses are owned by those not identified as Non-Hispanic white.
SOURCE: Governing analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2012 Survey of Business Owners, 2007 Survey of Business Owners
The latest estimates also suggest a near across-the-board decline in employers for major sectors. Industries shrinking the most nationally between 2007 and 2012 include:

• Construction: -152,976 employers (-19%)
• Finance and insurance: -28,223 employers (-11%)
• Real estate and rental and leasing: -34,032 employers (-11%)
• Manufacturing: -30,988 employers (-11%)
• Retail trade: -61,751 employers (-9%)

Business Ownership Data For All Cities

Data Notes

• Results for some cities were either not published or were suppressed.
• The Survey of Business Owners is conducted for companies or firms rather than for individual establishments (locations).
• The Census Bureau estimates numbers of businesses from a sample of different datasets; a complete census of all businesses is not conducted.
• A change to the methodology affects comparability from prior surveys for “white” and “some other race” ownership categories.
• See a list of definitions used.