Business licenses rebound on '09

By John Boyanoski  

FEBRUARY 4, 2010 10:01 a.m. (0)

More than 500 entrepreneurs – 503 to be exact – rolled the dice in 2009 and went into business for themselves inside city limits.

That was the highest new business total in the city since 2006.

While the number of businesses increased, city leaders were cautious about reading too much into the data noting they do not know how many businesses failed in 2009.

According to a Journal analysis of city records, 100 retail stores opened inside city limits in 2009. That group, which was the largest license category last year, included everything from downtown convenience stores to consignment shops to shoe stores to national auto parts stores.

The second leading business group was restaurants with 48, followed by 47 barbers, beauticians and beauty salons. However, that number includes haircutters who may work in established businesses.

Also among the list of new licenses were seasonal businesses such as haunted houses and Santa Claus photo sessions, 19 new attorneys, 11 artists, eight computer  or software firms and one-street corner vendor. And in a sign of the times, five companies started up that specialize in buying used gold and two were employment agencies.

In addition, three businesses deemed high-tech growth opened in 2009.  There are nine such businesses listed in the city.

Nancy Whitworth, the city’s economic development director, said this a business clique the city has wanted to develop because it could lead to an influx of high-paying jobs.

The high-tech growth companies category is a relatively new business class and is aimed at growing the city’s overall economic base.  These companies do not pay a license tax their first year, but see increases at 33 percent increments yearly until they reach 100 percent, she said.

Overall, the number of new businesses is a positive sign, but the city needs to know more about what kinds of jobs and businesses are leaving to get a better picture of the economic climate, Whitworth said.

The city doesn’t track lost businesses at this point, but Whitworth said that is being worked on.

Whitworth said, though, that business prospects look food for 2010 based on the data as well the number of inquiries from firms looking to relocate here.

She said part of the growth could be coming from people who were laid off by bigger firms in 2009 and decided to start their own businesses.

There also were 19 people who listed themselves as consultants, nine professional services (that includes public relations firms) and several service companies, which tends to show a growth in entrepreneurs.

Retaining and growing businesses is vital to the city’s growth because it provides jobs as well as is a major part of the Greenville’s budget. The city collects money based on sales, which is why the city is putting in an effort to grow shopping areas in come of the major corridors such as Pleasantburg Drive and Laurens Road to replicate the success seen downtown, in the West End and along Augusta Road.

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