The Pursuit of Flexible Work is Leading People to Start Small Businesses in the U.S.

The pursuit of flexible work opportunities is one of the biggest factors influencing many people’s decision on whether they should launch a small business in the U.S.

A recent Amex Trendex report shows 44% of small business owners turned to entrepreneurship because they “needed more flexible work.”

Notably, the report, which surveyed 1,127 U.S. small business financial decisionmakers, found 74% of Gen-X and Boomer small business owners had a traditional job or another role in their current business before starting their company.

Millennials and Gen-Z are more divided, with a higher likelihood of starting their businesses immediately out of school.

“About six-in-ten (59%) of Millennials and Gen-Zers surveyed had a traditional job before starting their business, but one-in-five (20%) Millennial and Gen-Z small business owners indicated they were students or unemployed before starting their business (vs. 3% of Gen-Xers and Boomers),” the survey reveals.