{"id":2979,"date":"2025-05-05T10:22:25","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T14:22:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/news\/?p=2979"},"modified":"2025-05-06T12:19:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T16:19:32","slug":"despite-economic-uncertainty-42-of-us-small-business-owners-are-very-happy-according-to-new-research-from-vistaprint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/news\/despite-economic-uncertainty-42-of-us-small-business-owners-are-very-happy-according-to-new-research-from-vistaprint","title":{"rendered":"Despite Economic Uncertainty, 42% of US Small Business Owners are \u201cVery\u201d Happy, According to New Research from VistaPrint"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over one-half are \u201cmuch\u201d happier now being a small business owner compared to when working for someone else.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Internal influences, including independence and passion, shape small business happiness more than external factors.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

MAY 5, 2025\u00a0 <\/b>\u2013 This National Small Business Week, <\/span>VistaPrint<\/span><\/a>, the print and design partner to small businesses, released new research evaluating the current state of small business happiness \u2013 and the factors contributing to it \u2013 in the United States. According to updated survey findings<\/span>*<\/b>, 42% of small business owners (SBOs) are currently \u201cvery\u201d happy and 39% of SBOs are \u201csomewhat\u201d happy, revealing that American entrepreneurs continue to showcase resilience and optimism despite economic uncertainty. Only 10% of respondents say they are currently \u201csomewhat\u201d or \u201cvery\u201d unhappy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSmall business owners are inherently positive people and they find fulfillment by charting their own course,\u201d said Emily Whittaker, Executive Vice President, North America and Global Marketing, VistaPrint. \u201cThis research recognizes the vitality of America\u2019s entrepreneurial spirit and the pride millions of small business owners take in shaping their own future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

According to earlier research**, over one-half (53%) of entrepreneurs are \u201cmuch\u201d or \u201csomewhat\u201d happier now compared to when they first opened their small business. 53% are \u201cmuch\u201d happier now being an SBO compared to when working for someone else.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The survey also found that internal or day-to-day influences contribute more to improved SBO happiness than external or macro factors. Of the 53% of SBOs who are \u201cmuch\u201d or \u201csomewhat\u201d happier now compared to when they first opened their business, 32% attribute their current level of happiness solely to internal factors rather than solely to external influences (8%).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, SBOs rank \u201cfreedom to set my own schedule\u201d (42%), \u201cdoing something I love or am passionate about\u201d (41%) and \u201cinteracting with people\/customers\/society\u201d (30%) as the top 3 things they enjoy most about being an entrepreneur. The \u201ccertainty or control of their income\u201d (28%) is less of an influence on SBO happiness than independence and passion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier findings also found:<\/span><\/p>\n