For millions of Brits Web giant eBay has spawned a generation of so-called ‘off-on entrepreneurs’ – employees who fulfill their enterprising desires by selling items online after their 9-5.
In the US however, the auction giant has gone one step further.
This week, new Census figures, obtained by American site inc.com, show that the number of self-employed leapt by one million, between 2003 and 2004, to give a freelance population of 19.5m.
Moreover, the figures reportedly reveal that within the same 12 months, the number of e-shopping and mail order businesses run by sole proprietors grew by 13 per cent.
When questioned about the rise in one-man band Americans offering electronic shopping, eBay said the trigger factors were not exclusive to the US, rather they were universally available.
“An individual working alone can create a global business using eBay” said Amanda Pires, spokeswoman for PayPal, the eBay-owned company that facilities direct e-payments.
“Sellers can turn over their inventory much faster. They get their money instantly so they can send goods immediately. They no longer have to wait to receive a check and the check to clear before they send their goods."
Currently, sole proprietorships account for 70 per cent of all US businesses and generate $887 billion in annual sales.
EBay added that the majority of its merchant-base in the US are now sole proprietors.
Aug 24, 2006
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