American Entrepreneurship Stays Hot: Record 564,065 Businesses Formed in August, 4.7M in 2026
August marks the strongest eighth month on record, with formations up 11% year over year
Registered Agents Inc, the nation’s largest provider of registered agent services, compliance solutions and corporate identity services, today released its August 2026 New Business Formation Report, showing that Americans continued starting businesses at a historic pace through the end of summer.
A total of 564,065 new businesses were formed nationwide in August, making it the strongest August on record. Formations jumped 11%, from August 2025, when 508,480 businesses were formed.
The momentum extends beyond a single year. August formations were roughly 22% higher than August 2024, and 44 of the 50 states plus Washington, D.C., recorded year-over-year growth.
Through the first eight months of 2026, Americans have formed more than 4.7 million new businesses. The consistent stability since January indicates that the underlying level of American entrepreneurship remains exceptionally strong.
“A lot of people are looking at the economy and deciding they need more control over their financial future,” said Molly Cavanah, VP of Revenue Growth and Data at Registered Agents Inc. “The most striking thing about 2026 isn’t just how many businesses are being created. It’s how consistently people are creating them. The economy has given people plenty of reasons to hesitate. Instead, they’re moving faster.”
August formations were down 0.8% from July, when 568,810 businesses were formed. That nominal seasonal dip came after several months of historically strong activity and still leaves 2026 well ahead of the pace set in recent years.
Delaware Hits a New August Record
Delaware recorded its highest August formation total on record, with formations up 11.7% from August 2025.
The result comes despite growing attention around businesses potentially leaving the state, otherwise known as DExit. After formation activity declined between 2022 and 2024, Delaware rebounded in 2025 and has gained solid momentum in 2026.
The August numbers suggest Delaware’s deep corporate infrastructure remains a powerful draw for entrepreneurs and businesses, even as other states compete aggressively for new formations.
Georgia Surges While Texas Takes a Step Back
Georgia delivered one of August’s biggest surprises, ranking fifth nationally in total formations while posting 15% year-over-year growth. Formations also jumped nearly 12% from July, giving Georgia its strongest August since 2020.
Georgia accounted for 6.5% of the nation’s year-over-year increase, despite representing just 4.1% of national formations in August 2025.
Meanwhile, Texas remained one of the nation’s five largest formation markets, but experienced its sharpest July-to-August decline on record, falling 5%. Even with that drop, Texas formations were still nearly 17% higher year to date than during the same period in 2025.
The contrast between Georgia and Texas highlights a larger story: individual states may see sharp monthly swings, but the national appetite for business ownership remains remarkably strong.
The Bigger Picture
August’s numbers point to a sustained shift in how Americans are responding to economic uncertainty. Rather than waiting for conditions to improve, millions are moving ahead with new businesses.
With 4.7 million-plus formations already recorded in 2026, the country is on pace for another historic year of entrepreneurship.
The full August 2026 New Business Formation Report, including state-by-state data, historical trends and business owner sentiment, is available at Registered Agents Inc.
