Imagine the risk and pressure of starting up and running a business by yourself -- no paid employees to help you. Can't be many of those businesses, can there? Fact is, America has over 15.7 million one-person businesses accounting for over $643 billion in receipts annually according to a just-released report from the U.S. Census Bureau. 

According to the report titled Nonemployer Statistics: 1998, the number of one-person businesses grew by 1.7 percent or 269,118 new businesses between 1997 and 1998.

"These very small businesses are excluded from most other business statistics," said Census Bureau analyst Jerry Roth, "yet they make up an important part of many industries, such as barber and beauty shops or accounting and repair services."

Four economic sectors made up 59 percent of all nonemployer sales or receipts. They were real estate and rental and leasing, $132 billion; construction, $94 billion; professional, scientific and technical services, $83 billion; and retail trade, $71 billion.

America's 15,708,727 one-person businesses reported total receipts of over $643.7 billion in 1998, according to the Census Bureau report.

Nevada led all states with an increase of 5.9 percent in nonemployer businesses. Delaware and Georgia followed, with gains of 3.9 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively, over the same period.

Not all self-employed individuals are counted as nonemployers. More than 1 million self-employed business owners have paid employees and, therefore, are classified as employer businesses. Many nonemployer businesses are part-time ventures and individuals may operate more than one business.

According to the report, top business sectors of the total 15,708,727 one-person operations in America included:

Professional, scientific, & technical services -- 2,415,213

Other services (except public administration) -- 2,208,888

Construction -- 1,908,336

Transportation & warehousing -- 1,761,707

Real estate & rental & leasing -- 1,565,260

Health care & social assistance -- 1,185,456

A complete breakdown of one-person businesses in all categories can be found in the 1998 Nonemployer Statistics Summary 1998 at http://www.census.gov/epcd/nonemployer/1998/us/

"Most types of businesses covered by the Census Bureau economic statistics programs are included in the nonemployer statistics. Tax-exempt businesses are excluded. All of the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting sector, except crop and animal production, are covered in nonemployer statistics; these industries typically are not covered in other Census Bureau economic programs." -- U.S. Census