The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Advocacy surveys every state in the country and analyzes the top five industries that are popular for small businesses.
Most small businesses in Florida are sole proprietors or freelancers, and the latest information from the SBA reveals the top five most popular small businesses in Florida.
Topping the list of the most popular sectors for small businesses in Florida was the professional, scientific, and technical services industry, with 441,622 companies participating. This category includes industries such as law, IT, consulting, architecture, and marketing.
The second largest sector is the transportation and warehousing sector, with 423,991 small and medium-sized enterprises. This industry includes local trucking companies, logistics providers, and storage operations.
Management, support and waste management came in third with 402,037 companies. This includes cleaning companies, landscaping companies, staffing companies, security services, waste management, and more.
The other services (excluding government) sector is the fourth largest industry for small businesses in Florida, with 390,213 businesses. This includes auto repair shops, salons, pet groomers, dry cleaners, etc.
Although some economists say the housing sector is in recession, the real estate and rental/leasing sector ranks fifth among Florida’s small business industries, with 372,831 small businesses statewide.
This industry includes residential and commercial real estate agents and brokers, property managers, landlords, and companies that rent vehicles, equipment, or commercial space.
Carlos J. Correa, chief operating officer of cloud-based customer relationship management software company Ringy (ringy.com), said SBA data shows that small businesses drove much of the net job growth in many states over the past year and contributed significantly to local economies.
