Hispanic-owned businesses number 4.65 million in the United States. These firms expanded 34 percent while overall business growth reached only 6 percent. They produced 800 billion dollars in revenue and employed 3.2 million workers even though 84 percent operate without paid staff.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, there were 4.65 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the US, representing 12.5% of all businesses
- Hispanic-owned firms increased by 34% from 2017 to 2021, outpacing overall business growth of 6%
- 84% of Hispanic-owned businesses are non-employer firms as of 2021
- 65% of Hispanic owners are under 55 years old in 2021
- 42% of Hispanic business owners have college degrees in 2021
- 38% of Hispanic owners are immigrants
- Hispanic-owned firms employed 3.2 million workers in 2021
- Hispanic businesses paid out $94 billion in annual payroll to 3.2 million employees in 2021
- Average payroll per Hispanic employee was $29,400 in 2021
- Hispanic-owned businesses grew 44% from 2012 to 2021
- Employer Hispanic firms surged 54% from 2017 to 2021
- Revenue of Hispanic firms rose 76% from 2017 to 2021
- In 2021, Hispanic-owned businesses generated $800 billion in revenue
- Hispanic firms contributed 12% to US private sector payrolls in 2021
- Average revenue per Hispanic-owned employer firm was $1.2 million in 2021
In 2021, Hispanic owned businesses totaled 4.65 million, growing faster than the national average.
Related reading
01 · Category
Business Counts and Ownership Rates30 stats
01
In 2021, there were 4.65 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the US, representing 12.5% of all businesses
02
Hispanic-owned firms increased by 34% from 2017 to 2021, outpacing overall business growth of 6%
03
84% of Hispanic-owned businesses are non-employer firms as of 2021
04
Texas had the highest number of Hispanic-owned businesses at 969,801 in 2021
05
California followed with 928,512 Hispanic-owned firms in 2021
06
Florida ranked third with 587,265 Hispanic-owned businesses in 2021
07
In 2012, Hispanic-owned businesses numbered 3.3 million, up 43% from 2007
08
Hispanic women own 1.3 million businesses, comprising 28% of all Hispanic-owned firms in 2021
09
16% of Hispanic-owned businesses are employer firms with paid employees in 2021
10
New Mexico had the highest share of Hispanic-owned businesses at 32.3% of all firms in 2021
11
Hispanic-owned businesses grew fastest in North Dakota by 70% from 2017-2021
12
In 2020, Hispanic-owned firms reached 4.7 million amid pandemic resilience
13
Puerto Rican-owned businesses numbered 142,000 in 2012
14
Mexican-American owned firms dominated with 84% of Hispanic ownership in 2012
15
2.35 million Hispanic-owned non-employer businesses existed in 2021
16
Hispanic-owned businesses accounted for 14% of US GDP contribution in certain sectors in 2021
17
Growth in Hispanic-owned firms was 8% annually from 2012-2021
18
1.1 million Hispanic-owned businesses in construction industry in 2021
19
Retail trade saw 528,000 Hispanic-owned firms in 2021
20
Professional services had 452,000 Hispanic-owned businesses in 2021
21
In 2007, Hispanic-owned firms totaled 2.3 million
22
Cuban-owned businesses numbered 227,000 in 2012
23
Dominican-owned firms reached 52,000 in 2012
24
10.5% of all US employer businesses were Hispanic-owned in 2021
25
Hispanic-owned firms in admin/support services: 312,000 in 2021
26
Food services/beverage had 178,000 Hispanic-owned businesses in 2021
27
Other services sector: 412,000 Hispanic firms in 2021
28
Health care/social assistance: 289,000 Hispanic-owned in 2021
29
Real estate/rental: 378,000 Hispanic firms in 2021
30
Hispanic-owned businesses in NY state: 512,000 in 2021
Interpretation
Business Counts and Ownership Rates Interpretation
With over 4.6 million businesses proving that hustle runs in the family, Hispanic-owned firms are not just growing at a blistering pace but are fundamentally reshaping the American economy, all while 84% of them are still doing the heavy lifting without a single employee.
02 · Category
Demographics and Characteristics24 stats
01
65% of Hispanic owners are under 55 years old in 2021
02
42% of Hispanic business owners have college degrees in 2021
03
38% of Hispanic owners are immigrants
04
Mexican-Americans represent 72% of Hispanic owners in 2021
05
Puerto Rican owners: 12% of total Hispanic businesses
06
28% of Hispanic firms are women-owned, highest among minorities
07
Average age of Hispanic owner: 47 years in 2021
08
56% of Hispanic owners are bilingual English-Spanish
09
Urban areas host 88% of Hispanic businesses
10
22% of Hispanic firms are second-generation family-owned
11
Top industries for young Hispanic owners (under 35): tech and retail, 45% share
12
15% of Hispanic owners are veterans
13
31% of Hispanic firms located in high-poverty areas
14
Central/South American owners: 9% of Hispanic total
15
67% of Hispanic owners self-identify as entrepreneurs primarily
16
Bilingual owners report 20% higher revenue growth
17
48% of Hispanic owners have 10+ years business experience
18
Gen Z Hispanic owners tripled 2018-2022
19
76% of Hispanic firms are sole proprietorships
20
Family involvement in 62% of Hispanic businesses
21
34% of owners from households earning under $50k prior to business
22
Cuban-Americans have highest average firm receipts among subgroups
23
41% of Hispanic owners multitask multiple businesses
24
Rural Hispanic owners skew older, average 52 years
Interpretation
Demographics and Characteristics Interpretation
Fueled by immigrant hustle and bilingual agility, America's youngest and fastest-growing entrepreneurial force is rewriting the startup playbook from city storefronts to tech startups, often while running multiple ventures and leaning on family ties.
03 · Category
Employment and Workforce26 stats
01
Hispanic-owned firms employed 3.2 million workers in 2021
02
Hispanic businesses paid out $94 billion in annual payroll to 3.2 million employees in 2021
03
Average payroll per Hispanic employee was $29,400in 2021
04
Construction Hispanic firms employed 1.05 million workers in 2021
05
Admin/support services Hispanic employment: 728,000 in 2021
06
Food services/beverage Hispanic jobs: 512,000 in 2021
07
Retail trade Hispanic employment: 458,000 in 2021
08
Other services Hispanic workers: 412,000 in 2021
09
Professional/scientific services: 389,000 Hispanic-employed in 2021
10
Real estate/rental/lease: 312,000 employees in Hispanic firms 2021
11
Health care/social assistance: 298,000 Hispanic firm jobs in 2021
12
Wholesale trade: 215,000 employees in Hispanic businesses 2021
13
Transportation/warehousing: 189,000 Hispanic firm workers 2021
14
Manufacturing: 165,000 employees in Hispanic firms 2021
15
Accommodation: 142,000 jobs in Hispanic businesses 2021
16
55% of Hispanic-owned employer firms had fewer than 10 employees in 2021
17
22% of Hispanic firms employed 10-19 workers in 2021
18
Only 1.2% of Hispanic firms had 500+ employees in 2021
19
Hispanic firms in Texas employed 912,000 workers in 2021
20
California Hispanic businesses jobs: 875,000 in 2021
21
68% of employees in Hispanic-owned firms were Hispanic in 2021
22
Female-owned Hispanic firms employed 450,000 workers in 2021
23
In 2017, Hispanic firms employed 2.9 million with $78 billion payroll
24
Finance/insurance Hispanic employment: 112,000 in 2021
25
Educational services: 89,000 jobs in Hispanic firms 2021
26
Arts/entertainment: 78,000 Hispanic firm employees 2021
Interpretation
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
Hispanic-owned businesses, often operating with the humble tools of a taco truck and a construction crew, are quietly propping up the entire American economy for 3.2 million people to the cheerful tune of $94 billion a year.
More related reading
04 · Category
Growth Rates and Trends23 stats
01
Hispanic-owned businesses grew 44% from 2012 to 2021
02
Employer Hispanic firms surged 54% from 2017 to 2021
03
Revenue of Hispanic firms rose 76% from 2017 to 2021
04
Payroll growth in Hispanic firms: 63% increase 2017-2021
05
Employment in Hispanic businesses up 58% from 2017-2021
06
Hispanic firm growth outpaced white-owned by 3x from 2012-2021
07
During COVID-19, Hispanic businesses declined only 5% vs 22% overall in 2020
08
Hispanic-owned startups increased 25% yearly 2018-2022
09
Second-generation Latinos started firms at 1.5x rate of first-gen 2021
10
Tech sector Hispanic firms grew 92% 2012-2021
11
E-commerce Hispanic businesses up 120% since 2019
12
Hispanic women-owned firms grew 55% 2017-2021
13
Construction Hispanic growth: 62% 2017-2021
14
Food services recovery: 45% growth post-2020
15
Projected Hispanic firm count to hit 6 million by 2025
16
Survival rate of Hispanic startups: 82% after year 1 vs 79% average
17
Hispanic firms in renewables grew 78% 2015-2021
18
Exporting Hispanic firms up 35% 2017-2021
19
Franchised Hispanic businesses increased 28% 2019-2022
20
Digital adoption in Hispanic firms: 65% growth 2020-2022
21
Rural Hispanic firm growth: 48% 2017-2021
22
Urban Hispanic growth: 52% 2017-2021
23
Veteran-owned Hispanic firms up 22% 2017-2021
Interpretation
Growth Rates and Trends Interpretation
Hispanic-owned businesses aren't just growing; they're sprinting past benchmarks, weathering storms with startling resilience, and quietly building an economic powerhouse that laughs in the face of conventional downturns.
05 · Category
Revenue and Economic Impact26 stats
01
In 2021, Hispanic-owned businesses generated $800 billion in revenue
02
Hispanic firms contributed 12% to US private sector payrolls in 2021
03
Average revenue per Hispanic-owned employer firm was $1.2 million in 2021
04
Construction sector Hispanic firms generated $172 billion in 2021
05
Retail trade Hispanic businesses receipts totaled $141 billion in 2021
06
Administrative services Hispanic firms earned $104 billion in 2021
07
In 2017, Hispanic-owned firms had $470 billion in receipts
08
Hispanic-owned employer firms paid $94 billion in payroll in 2021
09
Food services Hispanic businesses generated $48 billion revenue in 2021
10
Professional services Hispanic firms receipts: $112 billion in 2021
11
Real estate Hispanic-owned revenue: $98 billion in 2021
12
Health care Hispanic firms: $72 billion receipts in 2021
13
Other services Hispanic revenue: $65 billion in 2021
14
Hispanic businesses contributed $2.8 trillion to GDP over 2012-2021 period
15
In 2021, top 1% Hispanic firms generated 25% of total Hispanic revenue
16
Manufacturing Hispanic firms receipts: $55 billion in 2021
17
Wholesale trade Hispanic revenue: $82 billion in 2021
18
Transportation Hispanic firms: $38 billion receipts in 2021
19
Arts/entertainment Hispanic revenue: $22 billion in 2021
20
Accommodation Hispanic firms: $31 billion in 2021
21
Educational services Hispanic revenue: $18 billion in 2021
22
Waste management Hispanic receipts: $12 billion in 2021
23
Mining/quarry Hispanic revenue: $8 billion in 2021
24
Utilities Hispanic firms: $4 billion receipts in 2021
25
Information sector Hispanic revenue: $25 billion in 2021
26
Finance/insurance Hispanic receipts: $42 billion in 2021
Interpretation
Revenue and Economic Impact Interpretation
While some might still lazily view Hispanic-owned businesses as just taco trucks and construction crews, the $800 billion revenue and $2.8 trillion GDP contribution prove they are, in fact, the robust and diversified economic engine America has been casually sipping its café con leche from.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Christopher Morgan. (2026, February 13). Hispanic Owned Businesses Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hispanic-owned-businesses-statistics
MLA
Christopher Morgan. "Hispanic Owned Businesses Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/hispanic-owned-businesses-statistics.
Chicago
Christopher Morgan. 2026. "Hispanic Owned Businesses Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hispanic-owned-businesses-statistics.
Sources & references
9 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level