A new twist to the 'mom and pop' The old family-run corner store is now a nail salon, motorcycle dealership, Internet-based auction site or ... NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The notion of a typical "mom and pop" business is getting a makeover, the government reported Thursday. Yesterday's image of a family-run corner store is giving way to nail salons, Internet-based auction sites and even motorcycle dealerships, according to the Census Bureau survey of small businesses run by one or more people that range from home-based firms to corner stores. The nation added nearly a million businesses with no paid employees in 2004 to reach 19.5 million, up 4.7 percent from a year earlier, the Census Bureau said. The numbers reflect the latest available figures. Businesses without a payroll now make up more than 70 percent of the nation's more than 27 million companies, with annual sales of about $887 billion, the survey said. Building contractors, Internet service providers, nail salons, e-shopping and mail-order houses, lessors of real estate, formal wear and costume rental stores and motorcycle dealers were among the fastest growing of the smallest firms. Florida led the nation in the growth of these small businesses with a 7.6 percent increase. Georgia climbed to second place with a 7.1 percent increase, while Nevada fell from first to third place with a 6.4 percent increase. Rounding out the top five were Utah and Arizona, up 6.1 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively. The Census Bureau report uses information from administrative records of the IRS. |
|