In the past five years, B.C.'s small businesses have grown three times the national average, according to a new small business report by the provincial and federal governments.
B.C.'s small business growth was 11.2% compared with the national average of 3.6%. B.C. was also the only province to boast double-digit growth in the small business sector. Between 2005 and 2006, the growth in the total number of small businesses operating grew 1.8%.
According to the report, B.C.'s small businesses employed roughly 57% of the workforce compared with 49% employed by small businesses across Canada.
Roughly 27% of B.C.'s GDP comes from small business, the highest percentage in Canada. More than $14 billion worth of goods exported from the province were shipped by small businesses. That figure represents almost 40% of B.C.'s total export value.