The State of Small and Micro Businesses in Rhode Island

With slightly more than a million people, Rhode Island is home to over 100,000 businesses, four out of five of which have no employees. This means that most business owners have no employees besides themselves. Micro businesses, which are generally defined as those having 10 workers or fewer counting the owner, constitute nearly 94% all RI companies. Small and micro businesses have a great impact on the state’s economy, accounting for almost 99% of all businesses and over half of the total workforce. With this in-depth report, EPI is striving to ensure that small and micro business owners — thousands of whom are from Black, Latino, Asian, and Indigenous communities — feel seen, prioritized, and supported.