Reasons Immigrants start a Small Business in the US are many. That shouldn’t surprise anyone as people from outside US want to come here to pursue their dream-their American dream.
One of the ways most immigrants see success is by business ownership. I myself, being an immigrant have started this small business to help others. Most immigrants understand that being their own boss would be the key to their and their family wealth
Most famous immigrants that own Small Business
The most famous immigrants that come to my mind are:
Elon Musk-Tesla
Why did Elon Musk immigrate to USA?
Reasons Immigrants start a Small Business in the US Click To Tweet“It is where great things are possible. I am nauseatingly pro-American.”
Elon Musk
The co-founder of Google, one of the biggest companies in the entire United States.
Top U.S. Companies Founded by Immigrants and Refugees
An important survey report :
The report finds that while immigrants make up 13% of the U.S. population in general, they make up 18% of small business owners
the Survey of Business Owners and the American Community Survey
In my opinion these are the reasons immigrants start a small business.
These Immigrants are Refugees.
Refugees have a higher rate of entrepreneurship than other immigrants.
Many immigrants are refugees running away from their countries from political, religious or cultural exploitation. They are the most motivated of all the immigrants and have come to the USA with great hope and a dream.
So, it’s not surprising that 13% of refugees are business owners, compared to 11.5% of non-refugee immigrants.
They are Immigrants.
The act of moving to another country is risky. So, it comes as no surprise that immigrants tend to be more entrepreneurial than the rest of the population.
In 2019, immigrant entrepreneurs made up 21.7% of all business owners in the United States, despite making up just over 13.6% of the population and 17.1% of the U.S. labor force.
As immigrants they are able to see the benefits of being a small business owner. As immigrants they see a need and their enterpreneural skill kicks in.
Immigrants can see the Aid US Government provides to them.
As an immigrant these people are considered a minority and have easy access to all kinds of government funding and grants. Small Business Bureau and its very existence and growth depends on helping these immigrant entrepreneur succeed.
Certainly, average Americans may face difficulty in getting loans and subsidies but there are a lot of programs for immigrants especially women. You can contact me to learn more.
Most immigrants are made aware of the programs, aids and opportunities available to them and they usually take them.
Entrepreneurial drive
The very nature of their existence here in the US means that they want to prove everyone back home -wherever that might be wrong!
Very early immigrants realizes that 9-5 job will not provide him with the American life that they have seen in movies and have come to the US for.
Reasons Immigrants start a Small Business in the US Click To Tweet
Business Ownership Among Immigrant Groups
Entrepreneurship Rates for Immigrant Subgroups, 2014
Middle Eastern and North African Immigrants
19.1%
Asian Immigrants
11.1%
Hispanic Immigrants
10.6%
U.S. Workers Overall
9.5%
Steve Tobocman, “Guide to Immigrant Economic Development,” Welcoming America, accessed July 5, 2016. Available online.
4 New American Economy, “Reason for Reform: Entrepreneurship,” October 2016. Available online.
Desire to Succeed as an Immigrant
- Many of these immigrants come to the USA with stars in their eyes! They want to succeed and are willing to go an extra mile to succeed.
- The opportunities and aid that is available to immigrants makes starting a small business a lot easier.
- Another reason is immigrants want to be part of the American society and speak English. Perfect example your neighborhood Manicure Saloon run by an Asian woman or Day Care run by Iranians.
Other examples of commonly owned small business by immigrants are retail shops, restaurants, and personal service businesses. These immigrant entrepreneurs help towns and cities across the United States stay vibrant.
In other words many of these immigrants may lack college degrees they still manage to run small business successfully.
For example, over 2.1 million immigrant entrepreneurs with less than a college degree have managed to create jobs.
Top Industries Among Immigrant Entrepreneurs with Less than a Bachelor’s Degree, 2015
Sector
Number of Entrepreneurs
Construction
444,042
Private households
227,894
Landscaping services
133,274
Services to buildings and dwellings
118,470
Restaurants and other food services
117,773
Total Number (all Industries)
2,104,597
www.newamericaneconomy.org/
Conclusion
To conclude most immigrants especially refugees are determined to be successful in the US. These immigrants see the US as a land of hope and want to be successful.
Find a ‘need’ or popularly referred as a ‘niche’ and put their heart and soul in it. Small Business Bureau and the whole government machinery is there to help them succeed
In my opinion the drive, the resources and the openness of America and Americans are the reasons immigrants start & succeed as small business owners.
Reasons Immigrants start a Small Business in the US Click To Tweet
Do you know of any such immigrant?
Is there any immigrant small business owner you admire?
Are you a woman and a small business owner? would you like to share your story?
You are very important for me.
These are the best tips for customer service I have seen. I will start using your ideas in my business…
Great article Sangeeta! Thank you for your amazing tips.
Great article! Lots of useful information. Thank you!
Very encouraging blog. I am going to read the Introvert’s guide sounds interesting.
Really useful information. I share your blog with the women I work with. They love it!!!