Small business in New York

How many firms, sole traders and new companies the five boroughs hold, from the Census Bureau and New York State.

Updated September 2026 · Every figure sourced below
235,767
Employer establishments
Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023 · data
1,022,413
Nonemployer businesses (sole traders with no staff)
Source: US Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, 2023 · data
159,139
Business applications filed
Source: US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (county, annual), 2025 · data
117,919
Companies formed in 2025 and still active on the State register
Source: New York Department of State, Active Corporations (data.ny.gov), 2025 · data

Manhattan companies formed each year and still active

companies
30,000 32,000 34,000 36,000 38,000 201620182020202220242025 37,106 30,000 32,000 34,000 36,000 38,000 2016201920222025 37,106
Source: New York Department of State, Active Corporations (data.ny.gov) · data · Chart: The Manhattan Business Review

Employer establishments by sector, five boroughs, 2023

#SectorEmployer establishments
1Retail trade31,958
2Professional, scientific and technical services28,738
3Health care and social assistance26,532
4Other services26,307
5Accommodation and food services25,507
6Real estate and rental and leasing19,452
7Construction15,367
8Wholesale trade12,841
Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns · data