What do the numbers say for 2026?

In an ever-changing world, more Americans are opting out of the challenging job market and are instead transitioning into the driver’s seat when it comes to their career. Many have chosen to control their success by being their own boss, and an increasingly large number have filed business applications in 2026 than ever before.

According to the United States Census, business applications for July 2026, adjusted for seasonal variation, totaled 578,926, an increase of 8.1 percent compared to June 2026. In other words, the Census Bureau is projecting 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.’ QuickBooks even reports that entrepreneurship is the top wealth-building strategy for 2026.

Most popular startups and business ideas of 2026 in the US

The US Chamber of Commerce outlines several popular startups and businesses in 2026, including those in the health & wellness sector, AI & automation, and even skilled trades & labor. An increase in access to technology and technology itself rapidly improving has created an increase in the “invisible entrepreneur.” QuickBooks notes even more entrepreneurs are 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. That means our analysis is only scraping the surface of the exciting new startup growth seen across the country.

What are some examples of popular businesses in 2026?

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

Health & 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 influx in the demand for skilled trade workers. Due to the rise of AI, skilled trade work is seen as one of the few industries that still offers job security. Forbes even 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. 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 include:

  • Electrical work
  • Handyperson
  • HVAC
  • Plumbing
  • Roofing

AI & 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 modernize daily tasks and even pump out content like never before. From new marketing ideas, fashion designs, drop-shipping businesses, and even warehousing and logistics ventures, the examples of startups and business 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 US to continue to evolve and change over time due to a variety of factors, but the same key tasks for startups to begin on the right foot 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) & 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
  • Get commercial business insurance