Small businesses play a big role in the U.S. economy, especially in rural areas. In the latest data, while small businesses accounted for about 48 percent of employment in metropolitan areas, they accounted for over 56 percent of employment outside of metropolitan areas.
Small business employment in rural areas grew by only 0.7 percent between 2012 and 2022. In contrast, small business employment within metropolitan areas grew by 12.4 percent during that period. However, small business employment in rural areas rebounded after the pandemic, growing by 4.2 percent in 2022.
The 2025 Small Business Profile on Rural Areas outlines the most up to date economic data on small rural businesses in the U.S. We explore trends in small business employment, industry makeup, demographics, farms, and lending outside of urban areas over recent years.