The Small Business Profile for the States and Territories, an annual analysis of each state’s small businesses, also finds that self-employment in Florida improved over the last decade, while minority self-employment saw the largest growth.

Each state’s small business profile can be read or downloaded by visiting the Office of Advocacy’s website at sba.gov/advocacy/848.

All in all, Florida’s 2.1 million small businesses represent 98.9 percent of all employers, and they employ 42.9 percent of the private-sector labor force.

Nationwide, there are 27.8 million small businesses representing 99.7 percent of all employers and employing nearly half – 49.1 percent – of the private-sector labor force.

“Like many states across the nation, small businesses are helping to strengthen the economy in Florida,” said Winslow Sargeant, chief counsel for Advocacy. “Most of the country’s small businesses continue to be very small, having fewer than 20 employees, but they paint a big picture of a recovering America. Advocacy’s analysis gives us a clear understanding of just how important small businesses are in Florida.”

Florida’s small business profile contains detailed information about the number and type of businesses in the state, business owner demographics, industrial makeup, business turnover and income and finance. Most data are also presented in comparison with similar data over time.

Highlights of the Florida small business profile include:

Overall, Florida’s economy was strong in 2011, with real gross state product increasing 2.5 percent and private-sector employment increasing 1.5 percent. During the midst of the economic recession, the employment situation from 2007-2010 was weak, and small businesses in Florida had a net job loss.

*Pictured abve is Winslow Sergeant

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