small- and middle-sized enterprise
(SME)
Noun


A business enterprise in the European Union that has employees, revenue and a balance sheet total below a certain level: 100-250 employees, < €50 mn revenue and < €43 mn total assets.

Synonym(s): 
  • small and medium-sized business; small and medium-sized company; small and medium-sized firm.
  • [AE]: small business
    .
Comment: 
US SMEs include firms with fewer than 500 employees.