A small company with a small group of employees with a private company owned and operated, and the business is relatively low. Often separated by country and industry of the statutory definition of "small", but the European Union in the U.S. generally at least 100 employees and less than 50 employees. In comparison, the definition of medium - sized enterprises by the number of employees generally in the U.S. is less than 500 and 250 for the European Union. A small business in Australia, 1-19 employees and medium-sized enterprises in the form of 20-200 people as has been defined. Small companies usually personal, partnership or sole corporations are owned proprietorships.

In addition to the number of employees, other ways to classify small companies used the annual sales (turnover), assets and net profit (balance sheet), alone or in compound includes a definition. These criteria are supported by the European Union, for example, (employees, turnover and balance sheet total). Operation in the region a major business location are usually small but it is not.

Small businesses in many countries in the economic system is dependent on the operation are. Specific examples are: shops, small shops or a bakery Deli (such) as, hairdressers, tradesmen, lawyers, accountants, restaurant, guest house, photographer, small-scale industries, etc.

Private houses, often small companies, international organizations are micro (period, such as the World Bank and International Finance Corporation) or SOHOs. The word "mom and pop business" who the boss is not something (or not) with the employees of the same family for a colloquial expression. Estimate of the number of employees, the U.S. and the European definitions: At least 10 employees are.