RALEIGH – Threat of recession, rising interest rates and other economic worries such as labor shortages and supply chain issues have failed to reduce the desire of entrepreneurs in North Carolina to launch new business. Creation of companies continues at a near record pace, says Secretary of State Elaine Marshall.
Marshall announced Tuesday that North Carolinians created some 60,000 businesses through the first third of 2023, coming close to matching records in the range of 60,000 to 61,000 in each of the past two years.
Dating back to the pandemic in 2020 the creation numbers are up from 39,000, Marshall said.
Marshall’s report comes as Small Business Week kicks off.
“The North Carolina’s entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well as new business creation filings remain historically high compared to pre-Covid creations,” said Marshall. “As we celebrate National Small Business Week, we recognize that small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities and the foundation of a strong North Carolina economy.”
Annual reports filed with the state have set a record as well, hitting 461,000 which is 50,000 more than in 2022 and three times the number in 2020.
Entrepreneurs seeking information about forming a company can visit the Secretary of State’s Resources for Innovators, Start-Ups, and Entrepreneurs at sosnc.gov/rise.
