2025 has delivered mixed economic signals—some optimism, plenty of caution—but among Americans, the itch to start a business has not gone away.
Thinking about launching something of your own this year? Bluevine surveyed 1,040 Americans who have expressed interest in business ownership to understand the real barriers and motivations behind that leap, from economic concerns to practical banking needs.
Here’s what stood out—and what could help more people move from concept to company.
Nearly half of the would-be business founders surveyed listed “economic uncertainty” in their top three concerns for starting a business (47.9%), ahead of fear of failure (40%) and unpredictable income (38.5%).
That anxiety tracks the headlines: Small-business uncertainty jumped sharply in July, even as overall optimism ticked up, and the latest jobs report showed hiring nearly stalling with unemployment edging higher. Meanwhile, inflation is running at 2.7% year over year—which is moderate by recent standards—but 83.2% of respondents say lending rate cuts would make them more likely to start, a sign that uncertainty is still very real.
Money is also a common concern. Over one-third of respondents worry about not having enough savings for startup costs (36.9%) and unpredictable income (38.5%). Federal Reserve small-business reports show that access to capital remains a consistent challenge. Founders benefit from clearer, faster access to credit and cash-flow tools that steady early revenue swings.
Skills and information gaps are the next layer:
Pair that with practical life constraints, and the support brief writes itself:
Even though people are worried about the economy, most still see opportunity: In the survey, 78.9% said now is a good time to start a business (either broadly or in select industries).
There are a few reasons for this:
Layoffs are strongly linked to higher interest in starting a business. Among people laid off in the last 1-2 years, 64.9% say they are “very interested—actively making plans now” to start a business, compared with 42.7% of those not impacted by layoffs.
Recent layoff headlines and a still-active churn in parts of the economy help explain this—U.S. employers announced 85,979 job cuts in August 2025—up 39% from July and the highest August since 2020. Recent high-profile cuts at UPS, ConocoPhillips, Oracle, and Dexcom kept the topic top of mind.
At the same time, new business applications remain high, suggesting many people are acting on that interest. The U.S. Census Bureau’s Business Formation Statistics show 470,571 seasonally adjusted business applications in July 2025 (+2.6% month over month). Of those, 168,155 were high-propensity applications (more likely to become employer firms).
It is clear that layoffs are a real catalyst for entrepreneurship, and follow-through is most likely when access to capital and early cash flow tools are within reach.
While it should come as no surprise that individuals with higher education levels are more likely to chase entrepreneurial endeavors, the survey data uncovered that the gap may be much bigger than previously thought.
In the survey, 69.8% of master’s and doctoral degree holders say they are “very interested” in starting a business, compared with 46.8% of respondents without a degree—a 23-point gap.
So what explains the gap? The data points to a few common factors.
Taking a high-level look at the market, a 2020 report from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation estimated that roughly one-half of U.S. entrepreneurs hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
The gap likely reflects three advantages common to advanced degrees—higher financial capability, structured exposure to entrepreneurial skills, and denser networks. You do not need a diploma to close it; practical training, mentorship, and simpler access to capital can deliver the same lift.
Education is not the only divider; who leans in also varies by gender and age.
In the survey data, men show higher intent than women (62.1% vs. 46.9% “very interested”), yet women in this sample are more likely to already be owners (2.5% of women vs. 0.1% of men).
Historically, men start businesses at higher rates (in 2023, 0.44% of men vs. 0.26% of women became new entrepreneurs). Still, women have been closing the gap: The latest formation reports from Gusto find women started about one-half of new U.S. businesses in 2024 (up from 29% in 2019).
By age, interest is strongest among 25-34 (58%) and 35-44 (56%) in Bluevine’s survey. That lines up with national indicators showing younger adults drive new firm creation: One 2021 report from GEM USA notes 18-24-year-olds are starting businesses at higher rates than older cohorts, echoing the “start younger” momentum we are seeing.
More than one-half of would-be founders say they would launch with better policy and product support—especially cheaper capital.
In Bluevine’s survey, 58.3% of respondents said access to startup funding or low-interest loans would make the biggest difference in starting a business.
That squares with the findings from the March 2025 Consumer and Community Context Fed report: Many employer firms apply for relatively small amounts (half seek $100,000 or less) and a sizable share turn to higher-cost online lenders, where high interest rates and strict terms are common pain points. That shows evidence that lower-rate, faster credit could move people from intent to open.
Cost of coverage is the next obstacle, as 37.9% of our respondents say affordable health insurance for the self-employed would make starting feasible.
It’s understandable: ACA marketplace premiums are climbing—KFF reports that insurers filed for a median 7% premium increase for 2025—and broader reports show the steepest health insurance cost jump in 15 years, with even larger hikes projected for 2026.
A crucial early decision in starting a business is choosing a banking platform you trust—one that helps you get up and running fast and gives you the tools to grow at your own pace. Founders don’t just want perks; they want cash to move quickly and credit to be simple when it’s time to invest.
In the survey, would-be founders rank fast payment processing and funds availability (56.2%) and easy access to credit lines/loans (54.5%) above all other business banking features.
Even 24/7 customer service (38.2%) outranks more traditional hooks, such as:
Translation: When launching a business, quick cash and credit on tap matter more than perks.
Real-world trends prove these priorities are rising for a reason:
Centiment Audience on behalf of Bluevine conducted this survey of 1,040 Americans aged 25 and older who have researched business ownership in the past five years between Aug. 26 and Aug. 28, 2025. Data is unweighted, and the margin of error is approximately +/-3% for the overall sample with a 95% confidence level.
This story was produced by Bluevine and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
