Section
Data Stories
What millions of business listings say about Main Street, computed from open business-listing data.
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The shape of Main Street: what millions of U.S. business listings tell us
We counted every independent, locally-owned business listed on CheckThisBiz by type. National chains and franchises are excluded. Here is what Main Street looks like when you add it all up.
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The American cities with the most businesses on the map
Which places have the most listed businesses, how concentrated they are, and which city leads in every state.
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Where restaurants cluster
Restaurants are among the most common businesses on any American street. We mapped where they are most numerous, and where they make up the biggest slice of local business.
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America's home-service economy, state by state
Plumbers, electricians, cleaners, roofers, landscapers: the trades that keep houses running are some of the most common local businesses. Here is where they show up most.
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The share of businesses without a website
Plenty of real businesses have no website on record. We measured how common that is, by industry, subcategory and state.
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Closed for good: what the data says about permanent closures
Business listings do not vanish when a business closes. We looked at how many are marked permanently closed, and how that varies by industry and place.
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Beauty and wellness: where America's salons, barbers and spas are
Hair salons, barbershops, nail studios, spas and massage therapists are some of the most local businesses there are. Here is how they are spread across the country.
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Phone, website, address: how complete is a typical business listing?
Before you can check a business, you need something to check. We measured how many listings carry a phone number, a website, both, or neither.
