37% of Entrepreneurs Plan on Selling in Next 12 Months Says US Bank
June 23, 2025
Bob Coleman
Founder & Publisher
37% of Entrepreneurs Plan on Selling in Next 12 Months Says US Bank
A US Bank small business survey provides excellent insights into the pulse of small business entrepreneurs. And a strategy for selling their businesses is very important to them, which will create strong opportunities for SBA lenders.
Spoiler alert: Those with a succession plan report significant growth over the past year, compared to those without a plan.
US Bank says 37% plan to sell their business in the next 12 months, suggesting how quickly transitions of ownership may be approaching for some businesses. However, owners over 55 who own more than half of small businesses are not the only ones looking to sell. A high number of Gen Z and Millennial owners (41%) and Gen X (33%) say they are also planning to sell their businesses.
The report reveals a striking gap between intention and action. While 85% of surveyed participants say they originally became an owner to create something they could pass on, and 84% wanted to create generational wealth for their family, only 54% have a formal succession plan in place.
A growing number of owners (62%) have seen their retirement timelines accelerate in the past five years. But for many, navigating succession is a challenge:
– 62% find the process overwhelming
– 56% worry they won’t get a reasonable price for their business when it’s time to sell
– 53% lack the proper resources or guidance to plan for the future of their business
The need for small business owners to make long-term plans is reinforced by the day-to-day worries they are facing. Respondents reported their top macroeconomic stressors as:
– The economic environment (98%)
– Inflation or increased costs of materials / supplies (92%)
– Competition (92%)
– The ability of consumers to maintain their spending (86%)
– Fraud or cybersecurity threats (85%)
– Obtaining enough funding to support my business (84%)
Among other stressors, 4 out of 5 (81%) owners felt at least somewhat stressed about tariffs.
Despite these stressors, 96% of owners reported their business as currently successful and 88% saw growth in the past year. To manage pressures and position their businesses for the future, many owners are prioritizing key steps in the year ahead, including focusing on revenue (48%), ensuring enough staff (33%), improving company efficiency and cost-effectiveness (32%), and reacting to the general economic landscape such as inflation and recession risk (29%).
