5 Modern Day Brick & Mortar Businesses That You Can Start With a Limited Budget According to the Small Business Association, small businesses make up 99.7 percent of all employers in the United States. This statistic emphasizes just how important small businesses are to our economy. But what does it take to be a successful small business owner? For starters, you need a great product or service and the drive to succeed. But you also need to be strategic about your finances.