[mediascreen]

I would still say that, to most people, a startup implies more than just a newly started business. I have never seen or heard someone who has just started a small brick and mortar business (without grandiose expansion plans) refer to it as a startup.

That said, I'm not a native english speaker and I don't live in US - maybe it's more common than I think.

[tedmiston]

You're correct. We'd just call them small businesses.

Though I have seen some small businesses working in technology refer to themselves as startups without really understanding the definition (or because they're trying to sound "sexy" to recruit developers).

[collyw]

You are too old. Its youngster hipster speak for running your own small business these days. I have heard a few friends referring to their business as a startups.