SAN FRANCISCO, CA – June 30, 2026 — As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, Rocket Lawyer surveyed small business owners to better understand how entrepreneurship fits into today’s American Dream.
While the findings show that small business owners still strongly connect business ownership with the American Dream, they also show that for many owners, the dream is not just about owning a business. It’s about freedom, flexibility, financial independence, family stability, and more control over the future.
In the survey, 83.5% of small business owners said owning a business is part of the American Dream. However, small business owners were more likely to associate the American Dream with freedom and flexibility, financial independence, and homeownership than with business ownership itself.
This suggests business ownership is often seen as a path toward the American Dream, not the entire dream in itself.
Key findings from the survey
- Small business owners still believe in the business dream. More than 4 in 5 small business owners said owning a business is part of the American Dream, with many saying so strongly.
- Freedom and flexibility come first. The most common association with the American Dream was freedom and flexibility, selected by 53.9% of small business owners.
- Financial security is the foundation. Respondents also associated the American Dream with financial independence, homeownership, providing for family, and building generational wealth.
- Business ownership is fulfilling for many owners. 78.8% of small business owners said they feel somewhat or much more fulfilled since owning a business.
- Control is the top motivation. Respondents most commonly said they started a business because they wanted greater schedule flexibility, more independence, the ability to turn a passion or skill into income, and greater control over their income.
- The challenges are practical. The top barriers small business owners cited were finding customers, economic conditions, access to funding, and understanding what steps to take.
- For many owners, business is tied to family. More than one-third said they started a business to support their family, and nearly 1 in 5 said they wanted to build generational wealth.
The survey findings point to a clear theme: small business owners are not only chasing entrepreneurship. They are chasing control over their time, income, work, and family future.
That does not mean small business ownership is easy. Many owners feel fulfilled, but still face real pressure around customers, funding, economic uncertainty, taxes, paperwork, and knowing what to do next.
For small business owners, the American Dream may start with an idea, a skill, a side hustle, or a family goal. But building something sustainable often requires practical next steps, including choosing a business structure, drafting contracts, protecting personal finances, preparing for taxes, and understanding compliance obligations.
Rocket Lawyer’s full survey report takes a deeper look at how small business owners define the American Dream, why they start businesses, what challenges they face, and what separates fulfilled business owners from the rest.
Read the full report: The America250 Rocket Lawyer Small Business American Dream Survey Report (2026)
Please note: This page offers general legal information, but not legal advice tailored for your specific legal situation. Rocket Lawyer Incorporated isn't a law firm or a substitute for one. For further information on this topic, you can Ask a Legal Pro.
