Top ENC counties flourish with small businesses.

In 2021, there was a record-breaking number of 5.4 million business applications received by the IRS, the highest since 2004. Small businesses now employ almost half of the country’s workforce, as stated in a Chamber of Commerce report. However, the business climate and opportunities for small businesses vary across different regions. The Midwest was identified as the most business-friendly region, thanks to its low cost of living, educated workforce, and regulations that reduce taxes and ease zoning restrictions. The East and West coasts also offer unique advantages, such as California’s Silicon Valley, Hollywood studios, New York’s financial hub, and Massachusetts’ prominence in aerospace, defense, and information technology industries. Some states, like Delaware, Wyoming, and Nevada, even allow businesses to incorporate within their borders without physically being present there. To get more specific data, altLINE used Census Bureau data to analyze counties and identify areas in North Carolina with the highest concentration of small businesses in 2021. The calculation was based on the number of small establishments per 1,000 residents, with small establishments defined as those having fewer than 500 employees. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents and those without population estimates were excluded from the analysis. It is also important to consider that states allowing nonresidents to incorporate businesses will naturally have a higher ratio of small businesses to residents, as many small businesses are not operated by individuals living in that state. When examining the counties that topped the list in each state, it becomes clear that world-class vacation destinations are well represented. This could be attributed to tourists seeking to experience local life through small businesses like restaurants, bakeries, bars, and boutiques. Although most small businesses in the country are located in major metropolitan areas, those in rural areas tend to be more stable, potentially due to local residents’ loyalty or lack of competition from larger corporations. The article provides a list of the counties in North Carolina with the highest concentration of small businesses per 1,000 residents and invites readers to explore how this compares to other states. It aims to inspire individuals in their entrepreneurial endeavors.

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