Calgary Small Businesses: Fact Sheet - Calgary Economic Development

Calgary Small Businesses: Fact Sheet Calgary small businesses account for nearly 95 per cent of all businesses – they are a driving force within the city’s business community. Small business owners have the advantage over larger corporations in that their size gives them the flexibility to adapt quickly in terms of aligning resources. They are able to be innovative with products and implement processes and efficiencies. These advantages, married with their general passion for their business and ability to enjoy the advantage of customer focus sets them apart from larger corporations.

Business Establishments Of Calgary’s total business establishments (49,149) in 2011, small businesses (businesses with less than 50 employees) accounted for 94.9 per cent. Over the past decade, the number of small businesses has steadily increased, to 46,652 in 2011 from 41,379 in 2002, a growth of 12.7 per cent. A breakdown of small businesses by employee size range demonstrates that the smallest segment (1-4 employees) is, in fact, the fastest growing at a rate of 23.3 per cent.

2002-2011 Small Businesses by Employee Size Calgary CMA Employee Size Range

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

1-4 Employees

24,283

25,132

24,621

25,369

26,218

28,848

29,282

30,252

29,897

29,948

10-Year Total Growth Rate

5-9 Employees

7,442

7,544

7,703

7,770

7,936

8,167

8,105

8,083

7,943

7,919

6.41%

10-19 Employees

5,533

5,656

5,791

5,659

5,921

5,161

5,233

5,121

5,136

5,267

-4.81%

20-49 Employees

4,121

4,053

4,184

4,203

4,592

3,632

3,493

3,498

3,394

3,518

-14.63%

Total (