Nearly 9% fewer Michigan residents applied to create new businesses last year than in 2023, a larger drop than any neighboring state.
In Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, business starts decreased more than 10%, though they remained above pre-pandemic levels.
The data is based on the number of new applications for an Employer Identification Number, which businesses use for tax purposes. Statewide, 134,697 businesses applied for an EIN in 2024, down from nearly 147,955 the previous year.