The Age of the Entrepreneur

17% of American workers make their main income from self-employment. But we realized something: we don’t have a clear picture of what life’s really like for the that 17%. So, we ran a study.

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Learn who outsources what, where entrepreneurs feel the most pressure, and the common experiences of 2.5 million small business owners. Entrepreneurs across North America are doing things differently—see how your business stacks up.

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Report at a glance

What motivates small business owners? How do their expectations of entrepreneurship stack up against reality? And how well do they understand the financial side of their business? Here’s a peek at what’s inside the free report.

60% of entrepreneurs say “easy money” is the biggest myth about running a business

One theme spanned across all generations: when it comes to starting a business, motivations don’t line up with reality.

Graph of myths about starting a business

56% of entrepreneurs started a business so they could be their own boss

An appetite for control is the most significant factor in entrepreneurs’ decision to strike out on their own. The really interesting part? 56% of entrepreneurs also say having “unlimited freedom” is a common myth about running a business.

Graph of why they started a business


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