Small Business Startup Sentiment Index (SSI)

Timelines Compressed and More Full-Time Employees Seeking Franchises Amid Startup Sentiment Dip

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.

Entrepreneurs Believe Now is a Much Better Time for Their Franchise Startups

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.” 

Concerns about Funding and Access to Credit Are Finally Receding among Business Buyers

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.” 

Small Business Startup Sentiment Surges to Highest in Over a Year

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.

Aspiring Entrepreneurs Increasingly Optimistic About Startup Conditions This Fall

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.

Uptrend Seen in Entrepreneur Sentiment About Future Startup Conditions

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. 

Aspiring Franchisees Leave the Pandemic Behind

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. 

Business Buyer Demographics and Startup Timeframes Shift in February Survey

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.

Over 58% of Aspiring Business Owners Say ‘Now is a Good Time’ to Launch Their Startups

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.

Franchise Startup Intent ‘Within Three Months’ Time Frame Hits Record High

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 …

Confidence Higher Among Business Buyers than Consumers in May

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, …

Small Business Startup Sentiment Rises to the Most Positive in Eight Months

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 …

Percentage of Business Startups Planned for First Quarter Sets Record

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 …

Startups Planned for First Quarter of 2022 Reach Highest in Twelve Months

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 …

Franchise Prospects Show Record High Startup Intent For the Coming Month

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 …

Sentiment Index Shows Record High Startup Intentions Within Six Months

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 …

July Startup Sentiment Survey Shows Pandemic Increased Desire for Business Ownership

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 …

June Survey Shows Record Highs in Business Startup Sentiment and Near-Term Intent

  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 …

Entrepreneurs Ramp Up Enthusiasm for Spring Openings in November’s Startup Sentiment Index™

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 …

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

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 …

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

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 …

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 …

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 …

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