Average Receipts Growing, But Remain Below Pre-Recession Numbers
An analysis of Census data by Atlanta
SaportaReport finds that the average “mom and pop” business in the Atlanta
metro area is bringing in significantly less annual revenue than before the
recession. According to the data, in 2007, the average receipts for such a
business totaled $44,709. In 2012, that was down to $38,873. Still, revenues
rose from 2011 to 2012 in Metro Atlanta counties – increasing 8.3% in Gwinnett,
7% in Cobb, 4.3% in DeKalb, 3.8% in Fulton and 3.3% in Clayton. That compares
to national growth of 4.17% over the same period.
In another
measure, Atlanta small businesses have also struggled since the recession. Only
52,832 “mom and pop” firms were created in Atlanta between 2007 and 2012, down
sharply from the 138,199 such firms created in the five years before that.
However, Georgia State University’s Bob Gemmell, who heads the Herman J.
Russell Sr. Center for Entrepreneurship, suggested that the pre-recession total
was artificially boosted. Gemmell said, “Atlanta had one incredible boom in
population, and that created opportunities in the service economy, in restaurants,
in retail shops. That’s not the case anymore.”
Further Reading:
The Atlanta
SaportaReport
is the primary source for the information.
Do you own a business in Atlanta? Become an NFIB member today and join
350,000 other entrepreneurs who are saving time and money through their
membership.
Learn more about NFIB in Georgia.
