Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™

September Startup Sentiment Index™ Shows Dramatic Increase in Startups Planned 3 Months Out

October 15, 2020

Pending Election Puts Immediate Startup Plans on Hold In a remarkable turnabout, future business owners planning to start “this month” plummeted, while startups planned “3 months out” reached the highest ever recorded in responses collected September 23-30 2020, for the FranchiseInsights.com Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™. In August we reported the encouraging development that over …

August’s Prospective Business Owners Display Highest Readiness Seen Yet in 2020

August 27, 2020

Has Business Buyers’ Pandemic Pessimism Peaked? Updated 12:24 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 6, 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 aspiring business owners surveyed …

Prospective Franchisees Most Optimistic Since Onset of Pandemic Even as Concern over Future Conditions Rises

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 time. Granted, this is …

Covid-19 Motivates Aspiring Franchisees To Pursue Ownership, According to Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™

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. While the cause is …

June Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ Reveals Healthy Trend in Optimism Among Aspiring Franchisees

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 start a business,” the …

Google Searches Confirm Uptrend in Franchise and Business Startup Interest

June 18, 2020

Interest in franchise and business ownership has been rebounding in Google search trends over the past two months, rising steadily after a steep slide during the early weeks of coronavirus uncertainty and mandated state and city shutdowns. The search gains are confirmed by positive sentiment and increased investment inquiries from prospective franchise buyers across the …

Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ (SSI) Shows Growing Readiness in May

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 months, up from 30.8% …

Franchise Buyers Undeterred by Virus Headwinds in April Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™

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 months ago, despite no …

Buyer Sentiment Survey: Franchise Inquirers Looking Past Pandemic Effects – UPDATED 3/26/20

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 they do not represent …

Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™ (SSI) Shows Increasing Confidence in February 2020

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 presented with the statement, …

Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™

Monthly Index of Prospective Business Owners