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New businesses soared to record highs in 2021. Here's a taste of one of them

Juby George stands with his wife Shireen Bethala-George at the soft opening of Smell the Curry, a south Indian takeout and catering business at the Flourtown Farmers Market outside Philadelphia, on December 9, 2021. Andrea Hsu/NPR hide caption

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Andrea Hsu/NPR

Business

New businesses soared to record highs in 2021. Here's a taste of one of them

The number of business applications reached 5.4 million last year, surpassing the 2020 record of 4.4 million. In the pandemic, millions of people have decided this is the moment to chase their dreams.

New businesses soared to record highs in 2021. Here's a taste of one of them

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The COVID Small Business Boom
Laura Chase de Formigny Photography

The Indicator from Planet Money

The COVID Small Business Boom

After millions of people lost their jobs during the pandemic, many of them started their own businesses. In June people started over 440,000 new businesses. We speak with a hot dog stand owner about his journey and an economist on this trend.

The COVID Small Business Boom

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