Right to Start Releases First-Ever National Survey Designed to Understand How AmericansView Entrepreneurship and the Conditions for Starting and Growing Businesses

It Reveals That Americans Think That Governments – at All Levels – and Government Policies Across a Wide Range of Issues Do Not Support Their Entrepreneurial Dreams

Kansas City, MO – August 10, 2026 – Right to Start, the national nonprofit organization championing entrepreneurship as a civic priority, announced today the results of the first-ever national survey designed to understand how Americans view entrepreneurship and the conditions for starting and growing businesses. Understanding entrepreneurship is vital, because new and young businesses create virtually all net job growth in America. In addition, every 1% increase in entrepreneurial activity in a state correlates with a 2% decline in poverty. 

The survey reveals that Americans want to build businesses and are looking for the country to make it easier. Specific highlights include the following:

The American people harbor strong entrepreneurial dreams. 

Among non-entrepreneurs questioned, 69% say they’ve thought about starting a business, with Black and Hispanic respondents showing the strongest aspirations. 

There is a gap, however, between aspiration and action. 

Only 42% of those who’ve thought about starting say they are likely to do so within the next two years. 

A significant number of Americans – 39% – feel that current conditions to start and grow businesses are bad. 

Especially notable is that young people in our sample who are 18-34 years old – the future of our nation – are just as pessimistic (37%) in thinking conditions are bad. 

Overall, Americans feel that governments at all levels should do more to support entrepreneurs, remove barriers, and create a more level playing field. 

Only 23% say the federal government makes it easy to start a business. Only 28% say their state government makes it easy to start a business. Only 29% say their local government makes it easy to start a business.

Americans think that government policies do not support their entrepreneurial dreams.

Only 27% say the costs to register or set up a business with the government are affordable. Only 24% say the government makes it easy to manage the paperwork to start a business. Only 28% say that new businesses in their state have equal access to government resources and support as large established businesses do.

In addition, Americans believe key aspects of the country’s economic system do not support entrepreneurship.

Only 19% say affordable childcare is available to people starting a business. Only 23% say affordable health insurance is available to people starting a business. Only 28% say funding and financial resources are readily available to people starting a business.

“The American people harbor strong entrepreneurial dreams,” said Victor W. Hwang, Founder and CEO of Right to Start, “but they think that governments at all levels can and should do more to support those dreams. That’s a vital policy issue for public discussion, as a stronger entrepreneurial environment would provide widespread economic benefits to our nation and every community. While traditional economic development – attracting established companies from elsewhere – is not available to all communities, every community can take action to start and grow new businesses by leveraging its own people, assets, talents, and legacy.”

“The survey results reveal significant untapped entrepreneurial potential in America, while identifying practical opportunities to build a more entrepreneur-friendly environment,” said Kim Lane, Chief Operating Officer of Right to Start. “They, therefore, provide a road map pointing the way. Americans want to start businesses, create jobs, and build better futures. They want governments at all levels to make it easier by creating the conditions that unleash that energy. They want the governments to remove specific barriers that they have identified as being in the way.”

Additional information on the survey and its results is available here. To speak with Victor Hwang or Kim Lane, contact Henry Miller at hmiller@highimpactpartnering.com or 917-921-8034.

About Right to Start 

Right to Start is a national nonpartisan movement to advance entrepreneurship as a civic priority throughout the United States. Entrepreneurship has long been viewed as a solitary endeavor – the lone starter in a basement or garage. Right to Start’s vision is to transform America so that all communities prioritize entrepreneurship, clearing away obstacles to ensure that every American has an equal right to start and a level playing field on which to embark.