Startup and small business trends across the US in 2026

In an ever-changing world, more Americans are opting out of the challenging job market and transitioning into the driver’s seat in their careers. Many have chosen to control their success by being their own boss, and an increasing number filed business applications in 2026, as Thimble outlines below.

According to the United States Census, business applications for July 2026, adjusted for seasonal variation, totaled 578,926, an 8.1% increase over June 2026. The Census Bureau is projects that nearly 30,000 new business startups with payroll tax liabilities will form within four quarters of application from all the business applications filed during July 2026. This large influx could be attributed to factors like technological advancements or economic climates. According to Forbes, it has been coined ”The Great American Small Business Surge.” Additionally, QuickBooks’ 2026 Entrepreneurship Trends report states that entrepreneurship is the top wealth-building strategy for 2026.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce outlines several popular startups and businesses in 2026, including those in the health and wellness sector, AI and automation, and even skilled trades and labor. An increase in access to technology and technology’s rapid improvement has created a rise in what QuickBooks calls the “invisible entrepreneur.” According to QuickBooks’ 2026 Entrepreneurship Trends report, these “invisible” entrepreneurs are often unaccounted for: Nearly half (47%) of Americans say they earned income from a side hustle in the past year, but only 20% of them registered their work as a business.

What are some examples of popular businesses in 2026?

Overall, side hustles and startups are succeeding in several sectors. Here are some of the most popular business types of 2026:

Health and Wellness:

The anti-aging, nutrition, and overall wellness categories have been a consistent trend of the 2020s and have become a trillion-dollar industry. New wellness research and improvements have made way for renewed success for many businesses, while social media promotes the latest trends. Some examples of startups and businesses include:

• Med spas
• Skin care services
• Estheticians
• Pilates and fitness instructors

Skilled Trades:

Due to a massive retirement wave, along with what has been referred to as a “talent gap,” there has been a large increase in demand for skilled trade workers. Due to the rise of AI, skilled trades are seen as one of the few professions that still offer job security. Forbes cites this as the new “plan A” for the younger generations, with a big draw being the ability to start their own business. “With 77% of Gen Z saying they want to become business owners, they’re the most entrepreneurial-minded generation to date—and they can see the clear path from skills to business ownership in the trades,” Mark C. Perna writes in Forbes. “Another 34% believe the trades are the fastest path to getting ahead financially, ahead of 27% who believe this is true of college.”

Some examples of startups and business ideas in this space include:

• Electrical work
• Handyperson
• HVAC
• Plumbing
• Roofing

AI and Automation:

AI has led the way for a new wave of entrepreneurs in this digital age. While many startups are running their own AI model, others are utilizing AI to corner the market in other areas. AI has become a tool to streamline daily tasks and create content more efficiently than ever. From new marketing ideas, fashion designs, drop-shipping businesses, and even warehousing and logistics ventures, the examples of startups and businesses growing in this category include:

• E-commerce
• Content creation
• Marketing and brand consulting
• Warehousing and logistics

Key tasks for new startups to succeed in 2026

Americans should expect new startup trends across the U.S. to continue to evolve over time due to a variety of factors. But the key tasks for startups to launch successfully change much less frequently.

Consider the following:

• Identify your business’s mission at the start to stay on track. You can reference the SBA for planning resources.
• Set goals, both long-term (quarterly, yearly) and short-term, to keep things moving in your pipeline.
• Create contact information for your business, including a business email address and phone number.
• Establish an EIN.
• Open a bank account for your business.
• Create a website and/or social media accounts to build your online presence.
• Consider getting commercial business insurance.

This story was produced by Thimble and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.