How many new businesses are started each year in the U.S.?

Americans filed roughly 5.5 million new business applications in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. That level has stayed elevated ever since the record surge in 2021.

• Sustained boom: annual applications have run well above pre-2020 norms for several years now.
• Remote work flexibility: more people can build a business alongside or instead of a traditional job.
• Shifting priorities: changing career expectations have pushed many toward self-employment.
• More competition: a crowded field means new businesses have to establish a recognizable brand quickly to get noticed.