Start-up: September 2005 Archives

A new study just released by the Kauffman Foundation finds that there are 500,000 new business start-ups in the US every month. If accurate, that means we are now seeing start-up rates of 6 million a year!

Here are additional highlights as reported by the National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship:

Somewhat surprisingly, the study shows a relatively stable rate of entrepreneurship activity despite major changes in the national economy in the last decade. Based on data from the Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 1996 - 2004, an average of 0.36 percent of the adult population created new businesses each month with the low mark of 0.33 percent in 1997 and a high of 0.40 percent in 2004.

Most of the recent increase is attributable to immigrant entrepreneurs. While illegal immigration is a very serious problem that needs serious solutions, this shows that many of today's immigrants coming into the US are helping to improve our economy through their entrepreneurial activities.

Time to check in again with Jason as he works his way through the start-up of his coffee shop in Bozeman, Montana. He is finally getting close to a lease. I am sure the journey to this point has seemed like an eternity to him, but Jason has been diligent with every step. He has not rushed through key decisions just to get the doors opened. Too many entrepreneurs get antsy and make hasty decisions during the start-up process that they can regret for years to come.

We will have to have some sort of major web-based celebration when he finally sells his first cup of coffee. Being the purist that I am, I hope it is a mug of pure, black coffee.