Discover the Power of Micro-Businesses in Quintana Roo

In 2024, Quintana Roo was home to 74,000 businesses, employing a total of 580,000 people. Micro-businesses, which make up 91 percent of these establishments, employed 35.1 percent of the workforce, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi).

The Economic Census (EC) conducted by Inegi provides insights into the 'what', 'how much', 'how', 'where' and 'with what' of Quintana Roo and the broader Mexican economy. The data, collected in 2024, provides a comprehensive count of the businesses operating that year, as well as the number of people they employed.

The EC also gathers economic data such as income, expenses, remuneration, fixed assets, and information technology use, among other variables. This data pertains to the year immediately preceding the census, in this case, from January 1 to December 31, 2023. The EC has been conducted every five years since 1930, and the 2024 census was its 20th iteration.

The 74,640 businesses recorded in 2024 include those that began operations that year. In the private sector and state-owned enterprises, 58,457 businesses were operating in 2023, employing 427,378 people. Micro-businesses, defined as those employing 10 people or fewer, were the dominant force, making up 91 percent of all businesses and employing 35.1 percent of the workforce. These micro-businesses contributed 27.5 percent of the state's total income.

On the other hand, large businesses (employing 251 people or more) represented only 0.4 percent of all businesses. However, these businesses employed 26.2 percent of the workforce and contributed 19.0 percent of the state's income.

Early results from the EC show that between 2018 and 2023, cash remained the primary method of payment for sales, but its use decreased from 93.0 to 88.4 percent. Meanwhile, the use of credit or debit cards increased from 24.6 to 35.9 percent, and electronic funds transfers grew from 14.2 to 21.1 percent.