FranchiseInsights.com measures Small Business Startup Sentiment™ Trends data with monthly surveys of persons inquiring about franchises and business opportunities since January 2020. The monthly report Includes survey response summary data and time series for future business owners on:
May 6, 2026 – Startup sentiment was strong for the third consecutive month in April 2026 as business buyer surveys showed that 62.2% of persons exploring ownership agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time for startup”, up from a recent low of 30% in December 2025.
March 8, 2026 – Startup sentiment rebounded for the second consecutive month in March 2026 surveys as business buyer surveys showed that 64.0% of persons exploring ownership agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time for startup”, up from a recent low of 30% in December.
March 11, 2026 – Startup sentiment rebounded in February 2026 surveys as business buyer surveys showed 58.1% of persons exploring ownership agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time for startup”, up from 30% in December.
February 4, 2026 – Business buyer surveys in the last week of January 2026 showed a record low 30% of persons exploring ownership agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time for startup”, down from 42.9% in December and the lowest in our survey history. Despite their own perceptions of the current business climate, this hearty group of individuals is pursuing dreams of business ownership while others pause.
December 7, 2025 – Business buyer surveys in the last week of December 2025 showed 42.3% of persons exploring ownership agree or strongly agreed that “now is a good time for startup”, down from 64.3% in November, but in line with 43.9% in October.
December 3, 2025 – Business buyer surveys in the last week of November 2025 showed 64.3% of persons exploring ownership agree or strongly agreed that “now is a good time for startup”, up dramatically from 43.9% in October.
November 5, 2025 – Business buyer surveys in the last week of October 2025 showed 43.9% of persons exploring ownership agree or strongly agreed that “now is a good time for startup”, down significantly from the 84.5% record set in March 2025.
October 8 2025 – Almost 71% of franchise prospects responding to a monthly sentiment survey see business conditions “about the same” in three months, with another 9.8% seeing them “better” or “much better.”
August 6, 2025 – Just under 63% of franchise seekers responding to the FranchiseInsights.com August Startup Sentiment survey cited ‘funding or access to credit’ as their greatest concern in launching their startups, the lowest for that measure since September 2024. This is consistent with the expectation of lower rates by consumers in the University of Michigan confidence survey.
August 6, 2025 – Owners of current businesses were almost 28% of franchise seekers responding to the FranchiseInsights.com July Startup Sentiment survey, beating the previous record of 25.5% July 2021, and following a strong showing last month at 23.9%. The types of businesses owned ranged from import/export, to car repair, restaurants and accounting services.
July 9, 2025 – For three months, the percentage of entrepreneurs planning their startups within the coming year has reached or exceeded 87%, continuing an uptrend seen since 2023. Of this month’s respondents, 49.3% of entrepreneurs planned their startups within the next three months, down from a recent high of 64.3% in the April survey.
June 4, 2025 – Entrepreneurs seeking business ownership are more inclined to take action today than they were just a month ago. In the May 2025 Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ survey, 75.9% of respondents said they are “more or much more likely to launch their startups than three months ago,” compared with 57.1% for the same measure in the prior month.
May 7, 2025 – Startup sentiment among entrepreneurs exploring franchise ownership in April was a bit less sanguine than the record set in March, but remains in an upward trend despite market volatility tied to tariff negotiations. Surveys in the last week of April 2025 showed 71.4% of persons exploring ownership agree or strongly agreed that “now is a good time for startup”, following the 84.5% record set in March.
By: Michael Alston for Franchise Insights April 16, 2025 – Franchise development teams should enjoy a new tailwind in prospect optimism. Surveys in the last week of March 2025 showed a record 87.5% of persons exploring ownership agree or strongly agreed that “now is a good time for startup”. In the same survey, 74.1% of …
March 5, 2025 – More individuals leaving full-time jobs bodes well for franchise development in 2025. Surveys in the last week of February showed 63.4% of aspiring business owners either agreed or strongly agreed that “now is a good time to start a business,” with optimism about conditions now and in the near future. In the same survey, 81.5% of respondents see conditions for business and franchise startups “the same or better in three months.”
February 12, 2025 – The rising trend in near-term intentions to start businesses bodes well for franchise development in 2025. In late December surveys, 63.4% of aspiring business owners either agreed or strongly agreed that “now is a good time to start a business,” showing optimism about conditions now and in the near future. In the same survey, 90.0% of respondents see conditions for business and franchise startups “the same or better in three months.”
January 7, 2025 – The rising trend in near-term intentions to start businesses bodes well for franchise development in 2025. In late December surveys, a record 93% share of respondents plan their business startups within 12 Months.
December 3, 2024 – While funding is perennially the biggest concern, 41% of respondents think financing will be easier in three months. Now 68.9% of aspiring business owners surveyed either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business,” showing optimism about conditions now and ahead. In the November 2024 survey, 86.9% of respondents see conditions for business and franchise startups “the same or better in three months.”
November 6, 2024 – Now 75% of aspiring business owners surveyed either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business,” showing optimism about conditions now and ahead, the highest percentage in more than three years. In the October 2024 survey, 90.7% of respondents see conditions for business and franchise startups “the same or better in three months.”
October 2, 2024 – Fully two-thirds (65.6%) of aspiring business owners surveyed either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business,” with optimism about conditions ahead. In the September 2024 survey, 92.7% of respondents see conditions for business and franchise startups “the same or better in three months.”
September 4, 2024 – Almost 63% of aspiring business owners surveyed either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business,” with optimism about conditions ahead. In the August 2024 survey, 93.3% of respondents see conditions for business and franchise startups “the same or better in three months”, the highest reading since September 2021.
August 7, 2024 – About 58% of aspiring business owners either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business,” with optimism about conditions ahead. In the July 2024 survey, 79.5% of respondents see conditions for business and franchise startups “the same or better in three months” and those seeing the conditions “better or much better” rose to a five-month high at 31.5%
July 10, 2024 – Over 59% of aspiring business owners either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business,” with optimism about conditions ahead. In the June 2024 survey, over 82.7% of respondents see conditions for business and franchise startups “the same or better in three months.”
June 5, 2024 – Almost 58% of aspiring business owners either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business,” with optimism about conditions ahead, though trending down slightly since January. In the May survey, over 88% of respondents see conditions for business and franchise startups “the same or better in three months.”
May 1, 2024 – With 88% of franchise seekers planning their business startups within twelve months, it is no surprise that 63% either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business.” In the April survey, over 77% of respondents see conditions for business and franchise startups “the same or better in three months.”
April 2, 2024 – Over 61% of aspiring business owners either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business,” with optimism about conditions ahead. In the March survey, a record 89.3% of respondents see conditions for business and franchise startups “the same or better in three months.”
March 6, 2024 – Over 63% of aspiring business owners either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business,” on an upward trend beginning a year ago. In the February 2024 survey, 87.4% of respondents see conditions for business and franchise startups “the same or better in three months.” A record 62.1% of entrepreneurs planned their startups within the next three months, and 75.8% within the next six months.
February 7, 2024 – Prepare for launch! January startup sentiment data show 84.5% of aspiring franchisees plan their launches in the next twelve months, the highest percentage seen since December of 2023. The first of our Predictions for Franchise Development and Lead Generation for 2024 is looking very much on target.
January 3, 2024 – In the latest startup sentiment data, 84.5% of aspiring franchisees plan their startups in the next twelve months, the highest percentage seen since December of 2023.
December 6, 2023 – More than two-thirds of survey respondents (67.2%) either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business,” the highest for that measure of startup sentiment since the 69.2% reading in August 2022. Now 83.6% of respondents see conditions for business startups “the same or better in three months.”
November 8, 2023 – Almost 62% of survey respondents, either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business,” a sentiment essentially flat with September 2023. Now 83.3% of respondents see conditions for business startups “the same or better in three months.”
October 4, 2023 – A one-year high of almost 62% of survey respondents either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business” and 75% of respondents see conditions for business startups “the same or better in three months.”
September 6, 2023 — In August 2023, 38.6% of aspiring business owners said they are planning to launch their startups “in the next month” reflecting eagerness to begin their journeys. At the same time, 56.4% of entrepreneurs planned their startups within the next three months, and 84.2% within the next twelve months.
August 9, 2023 – In July 2023, 29.6% of aspiring business owners say they are planning to launch their startups “in the next month” reflecting an uptick in near-term sentiment. At the same time, 52.8% of entrepreneurs planned their startups within the next three months, and 83.3% within the next twelve months.
July 5, 2023 – In June 2023, 59 percent of entrepreneurs surveyed say they are “more likely to launch their startups than three months ago.” At the same time, 51.3 percent of survey respondents either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business”, up slightly from April but below May’s 60.4 percent reading.
June 7, 2023 – In May 2023, almost 69% of entrepreneurs surveyed say they are “more likely to launch their startups than three months ago.” Over 60% of survey respondents either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business”, up significantly from April, but inching back towards the record high of 76.9% in June 2021.
May 3, 2023 — In April 2023, 63% of entrepreneurs surveyed say they are “more likely to launch their startups than three months ago.” Just over half (50.4%) of survey respondents either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business”, down slightly from last month, but significantly down from the record high of 76.9% in June 2021.
April 5, 2023 — In March 2023, 53.7% of entrepreneurs surveyed say they are “more likely to launch their startups than three months ago.” Further, 55.6% of survey respondents either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business”, down slightly from the prior month, but significantly down from the record high of 76.9% in June 2021.
March 8, 2023 – In February 2023, 59.1% of entrepreneurs surveyed say they are “more likely to launch their startups than three months ago.” Coincidentally, 59.1% of survey respondents either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business”, consistent with the prior month, but down from the high of 73.5% in February 2022.
February 8, 2023 – As of January 2023, 76.6% of aspiring business owners are planning to launch their businesses within the next 12 months. And now, 58.4% of aspiring business owners either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business”, consistent with the prior month, but down from the high of 73.5% as recently as February 2022.
January 4, 2023– A record high percentage (91.4%) of aspiring business owners are planning to launch their businesses within the next 12 months. Now 59.16% of aspiring business owners either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business”, recovering from the prior month, but down from the high of 73.5% as recently as February, 2022.
By: Franchise Insights December 7, 2022 — A record low percentage of aspiring business owners see “now” as ideal for launching their businesses. Only 50.6% of aspiring business owners either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business”, down from the high of 73.5% as recently as February, 2022. …
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA – November 2, 2022 — A lower percentage of entrepreneurs see “now” as ideal for launching their businesses than any time since November 2020. Nonetheless, 53.8% of aspiring business owners either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business”, down from the recent high of 73.5% in …
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — October, 5, 2022 — A lower percentage of entrepreneurs see “now” as ideal for launching their businesses than any time in the past year. Nonetheless, 62.2% of aspiring business owners either agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business”, down from the recent high of 73.5% …
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — September 7, 2022 — A higher percentage of aspiring business owners are eager to get started in the coming month, while fewer see business conditions improving in three months. Nonetheless, 72.6% see conditions for business startups “the same or better in three months”, 42.7% see conditions the same, 29.9% see them improving, …
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — August 3, 2022 — Aspiring franchise owners have adjusted to financial and geopolitical headwinds, and never-ending epidemiological headlines, with 81.6% seeing conditions for business startups “the same or better in three months” and only 18.4% expecting conditions to worsen. In July, a record 61.7% of entrepreneurs planned their startups within the next …
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — July 13, 2022 — Aspiring business owners have been optimistic through the course of the pandemic and recent economic concerns, but they perceive less favorable business conditions for startup three months out. Of aspiring business owners surveyed in June, 74.4% were resolute about starting their businesses within the coming six months. Currently, …
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — June 1, 2022 — While measures of consumer sentiment have been declining in recent months, optimism about starting a business remains solid. Despite war headlines, stock market declines and inflation woes, 78% of aspiring business owners surveyed in May were resolute about starting their businesses within the coming six months. Not surprisingly, …
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — May 4, 2022 — April 2022 saw inflation at a 40-year high, war in Ukraine entering its third month, and the worst drop in S & P 500 performance since 1970. Despite all the uncertainty, 59.3% of aspiring business owners surveyed in April were resolute about starting their businesses within the coming …
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — April 7, 2022 — After a month of invasion, inflation, and market volatility, business startups begin to settle into the new reality in March 2022. Despite all the uncertainty, 52.9% of aspiring business owners responding in March were resolute about starting their businesses within the next three months. Further, 80.5% of these …
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — March 3, 2022 — On February 24th, the day the survey launched, news headlines of the invasion of Ukraine stunned the world and roiled financial markets. Despite the uncertainty, 57.4% of aspiring business owners were resolute about starting their businesses within the next three months. Further, 76% of these survey respondents see …
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — January 25, 2022 — In late January 2022, news roiled markets with the threat of yet another Omicron variant, a potential invasion of Ukraine, and the largest drop in financial markets since March 2020. Nonetheless, 53.1% of aspiring business owners were resolute about starting their businesses within the next three months. Further, …
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — January 5, 2022 –In late December 2021, the percentage of aspiring owners who expected to start their businesses within the next three months reached 62.1%, the highest percentage ever recorded. Further, 88.2% of these aspiring owners see business conditions about the same or getting better in the next three months, according to …
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — December 2, 2021 — Almost two-thirds of entrepreneurs (62.2%) agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business” in November 2021, a second month of descent from September’s high at 73.4%. Aspiring owners who anticipate starting their businesses in the “2-3 months out” range reached the highest level …
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — November 3, 2022 –Over two-thirds (66.2%) of entrepreneurs who agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business” in October 2021, down from September’s high at 73.4%. Aspiring owners who anticipate starting their businesses in the “next month” dropped to 16.2% in October 2021, in contrast to …
October 6, 2021 — Despite never-ending twists in the pandemic, a looming debt ceiling, more volatile financial markets, and even lower consumer confidence in September, aspiring franchise owners are undeterred. Entrepreneurs who agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business” grew to 73.4% in September, continuing a three month …
September 8, 2021 — Entrepreneurs who agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business” were 67.9% in August, up slightly from July, but down from the record level of 76.9% reached in June 2021. Nonetheless, a record 78.2% aspiring owners anticipate starting their businesses within six months. FranchiseInsights.com compiles …
August 4, 2021 – Entrepreneurs who agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business” were 65.9% in July, below the record level of 76.9% reached in June. Nonetheless, 44.4% of respondents report that the pandemic actually increased the desire to control their own destinies through business ownership. FranchiseInsights.com compiles …
July 13, 2021 – Entrepreneurs who agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business” reached 76.9% in June, exceeding pre-pandemic levels, and showed the highest reading in survey history. Further, a record 34.6% want to launch their businesses in the next month. FranchiseInsights.com compiles monthly the Small Business …
June 2, 2021 – Entrepreneurs who agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business” reached 67% in May, up from April’s reading at 65.4% of respondents, and the second highest in eleven months. FranchiseInsights.com compiles monthly the Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ (SSI) of individuals who have recently inquired …
Download the full May 5 Report May 5, 2021 – Entrepreneurs who agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business” settled in April at 65.4% of respondents, slightly off of March’s twelve-month high reading of 69.3%. FranchiseInsights.com compiles monthly the Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ (SSI) of individuals who …
Download the full April 7 Report Entrepreneurs who agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to start a business” grew in March to 69.3% of respondents, the highest recorded since February 2020 before the pandemic became headline news. FranchiseInsights.com compiles monthly the Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ (SSI) of individuals who have …
Over 60% Surveyed Intend to Start Within Three Months Download the full March 9 Report In February, entrepreneurs expressing intent to start or buy “this month” rose to a record 31.2% of respondents, by far the highest on record, and indexing at 218% of January 2020. Startups planned for the “next 2-3 months” grew …
Record 22% of Respondents Are Current Owners Seeking a Second Business Download the full February 3 Report February 3, 2021 – Entrepreneurs expressing intent to start “four to six months out” rose to a record 25.6% of respondents, by far the highest on record, and indexing at 167% of January 2020.These are the highest levels …
Download the full January 6 Report Release January 6, 2021 – Entrepreneurs are increasingly optimistic about starting their businesses, with the expressed intent to start “this month” rising again to a new high of 24.1% in the December survey. Startups planned for “6-12 months out” reached the highest levels since February 2020, at 22.6% of …
Download the full December 3 Report Release Dec. 3, 2020 – Forward-looking entrepreneurs are increasingly optimistic about 2021, with startups planned for “4-6 months out” reaching the highest levels ever recorded in the latest FranchiseInsights.com Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ (SSI). ‘Buoyed by positive vaccine news and easing uncertainty post-election, the Nov. 19-26 survey showed …
Nov. 12, 2020 – Entrepreneurial optimism rose for the third month in a row in October, as 60.6% of potential business buyers said that “now is a good time to start a business,” in responses collected Oct 24-26 2020, for the monthly FranchiseInsights.com Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ (SSI). Answering a week before the presidential …
Pending Election Puts Immediate Startup Plans on Hold Updated 10:24 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020 PRESS RELEASE: Additional highlights from full Sept. 2020 Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ FULL REPORT: Download the full Sept. 2020 Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ In a remarkable turnabout, future business owners planning to start “this month” plummeted, while startups …
Has Business Buyers’ Pandemic Pessimism Peaked? Updated 12:24 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2020 August 27, 2020 – In a strong sign of growing economic optimism amid the pandemic, responses collected August 20-26, 2020 for the FranchiseInsights.com Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ revealed a new high point for buyer readiness in 2020. Over 23% of the …
August 6, 2020 – July’s Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ showed the fourth consecutive month of increasing percentage of respondents who indicate that they “agree” or “strongly agree” that “now is a good time to start a business”. In the most positive reading since February, almost 69% of respondents think that now is a good …
July 16, 2020 – Investment interest from potential franchise buyers strengthened for the second month in a row in June, with rising prospects in several categories that were previously hard-hit by coronavirus concerns, such as Personal Care and Food franchises. Many categories saw double-digital percentage gains over May in the number of prospects who contacted …
July 9, 2020 – When asked how Covid-19 had affected their interest in starting a business or opening a franchise, respondents to the FranchiseInsights.com Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ showed a noticeable increase in the desire for “controlling my own destiny through business ownership,” up from 27.9% in March to 38.3% in June of 2020. …
June 25, 2020 – Survey responses collected June 18-23, 2020 for the FranchiseInsights.com Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ should come as a welcome relief to members of the franchising community. In testament to the return of animal spirits among entrepreneurs, 66.4% of aspiring franchisees agree or strongly agree that “now is a good time to …
May 28, 2020 – The highest percentage of aspiring franchisees plan to open a business within the next three months than at any time in 2020. Data collected May 23-27, 2020, for the FranchiseInsights.com Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ show that 39.5% of aspiring owners are planning to start a business in the next three …
April 30, 2020 – Starting a business amid economic uncertainty requires vision, careful planning and, perhaps most of all, guts. Data collected the week of April 14, 2020, for the FranchiseInsights.com Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ reveals that 52.5% of aspiring owners are actually more likely to start a business now than they were three …
March 26, 2020 – Respondents to a March 17-19, 2020 poll of aspiring franchise owners showed slightly more reserve than in previous surveys, but less than one would imagine given the impact of Covid-19 on business and the markets. Granted, these respondents are stepping forward at a time like this to consider business ownership, so …
February 26, 2020 – Recent surveys of prospective small business buyers revealed a healthy uptick in confidence from January to February 2020. The new Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ is based on a monthly survey of individuals who have recently inquired about businesses or franchises for sale on the digital assets of Franchise Ventures. When …