microbusinesses
Very small companies
Microbusinesses are very small enterprises, typically with fewer than ten employees and minimal revenue.
The term distinguishes the smallest commercial operations—a freelancer, a food cart, a one-person consultancy—from small businesses that might employ dozens.
Microbusinesses often operate without formal office space.
Government programs and lenders use specific thresholds to define the category for grants or loans.
Self-employed service provider
- self-employedWorking independently, not hired
- one-personFor a lone individual
- home-basedLocated at residence
- solopreneurSelf-employed business owner
autonomous · bootstrapping · self-reliant · consultant · contractor · owner-operator · self-starter · moonlighter
Created manually, not mechanically
- craftspersonSkilled manual worker
- bespokeMade to individual specifications
- customHabitual group practice
- handcraftedMade manually, not machined
artisan · tailor · woodworker · potter · jeweler · leatherworker · seamstress · weaver
Small owner-operated enterprise
- neighborhoodResidential area nearby
- cornerstoreSmall neighborhood retailer
- mainstreetPrimary town thoroughfare
- brick-and-mortarPhysically present business
family-owned · hawker · kiosk · bodega · tienda · hometown · walkable
Adapted for particular function
- boutiqueSmall specialized retail shop
- curatedDeliberately selected and organized
- targetedChosen for specific attention
- hobbyistRecreational pursuer of interests
collectors · connoisseur · subculture · gourmet · enthusiast · aficionado · exclusive · specialty
One who begins something
- bootstrapStart without external resources
- crowdfundingRaising capital from masses
- pitchFrequency of sound
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
MVP · pivot · incubator · accelerator · venture · scaling · proof-of-concept · co-founder
Internet-based buying and selling
- dropshippingSelling goods you never handle
- web-basedAccessible via internet browser
- print-on-demandProduction upon order placement
- affiliateConnected member organization
freelancer
Self-employed service provider
- self-employedWorking independently, not hired
- one-personFor a lone individual
- home-basedLocated at residence
solopreneur · autonomous · bootstrapping · self-reliant · consultant · contractor · owner-operator · self-starter · moonlighter
handmade
Created manually, not mechanically
- craftspersonSkilled manual worker
- bespokeMade to individual specifications
- customHabitual group practice
handcrafted · artisan · tailor · woodworker · potter · jeweler · leatherworker · seamstress · weaver · blacksmith
mom-and-pop
Small owner-operated enterprise
- neighborhoodResidential area nearby
- cornerstoreSmall neighborhood retailer
- mainstreetPrimary town thoroughfare
brick-and-mortar · family-owned · hawker · kiosk · bodega · tienda · hometown · walkable
specialized
Adapted for particular function
- boutiqueSmall specialized retail shop
- curatedDeliberately selected and organized
- targetedChosen for specific attention
hobbyist · collectors · connoisseur · subculture · gourmet · enthusiast · aficionado · exclusive · specialty
founder
One who begins something
- bootstrapStart without external resources
- crowdfundingRaising capital from masses
- pitchFrequency of sound
prototype · MVP · pivot · incubator · accelerator · venture · scaling · proof-of-concept · co-founder · early-stage
e-commerce
Internet-based buying and selling
- dropshippingSelling goods you never handle
- web-basedAccessible via internet browser
- print-on-demandProduction upon order placement
microbusinessesmultinational corporations
Businesses operating in multiple countries
conglomerates · megacorporations · corporations · big business · multinationals
microbusinessesmonopolies
Exclusive market control
industry titans · market leaders · tech giants · industrial giants · oligopolies
microbusinessesmonopolies
Exclusive market control
market leaders · Amazon · Walmart · Google · oligopolies