Amid uncertainty, more workers are becoming their own boss

Key Points:

• Small business creation in the U.S. is booming in 2026, with about 3.1 million new business applications filed in the first half of the year, a 17% increase from 2025, driven by factors such as job market uncertainty and the rise of side hustles.
• Many new entrepreneurs, like 22-year-old Lily Meglio who started a boutique in Connecticut, are motivated by the desire for creativity, flexibility, and control over their careers amid a slow job market and layoff fears.
• The rise in women-owned businesses is notable, increasing by 12.1% from 2022 to 2025, as women seek entrepreneurship for economic stability and work-life balance, especially after pandemic-related job losses.
• Artificial intelligence is both a concern and a tool for new business owners; while many fear AI-related job losses, others leverage AI for marketing, bookkeeping, and social media to reduce workload and ease business startup challenges.
• Experts advise new entrepreneurs to calculate their minimum living expenses ("ramen noodle number") and emphasize the importance of actively promoting their businesses to succeed, highlighting persistence and self-confidence as key factors.