People start businesses in the U.S. for various reasons, including higher income, achieving work-life balance, and combating unemployment
OnDeck's infographic uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau to highlight the unique motivations for starting businesses in different states
The map in the infographic tracks reasons that stand out compared to the U.S. average, such as in Delaware, where more people start businesses because they "couldn't find jobs
Entrepreneurship rates in the U.S. have been on the rise over the past two decades, with small businesses employing over 60 million people
Making more income is the primary motivation for starting a business in 14 states, including New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Alabama
Utah has a high percentage (65.4%) of entrepreneurs starting businesses to achieve a work-life balance, possibly influenced by the state's large average family size and strong religious presence
In Florida, the majority of business founders (69.2%) start their businesses to become their own bosses
New York and California stand out as states where entrepreneurs often start businesses because they couldn't find a job, reflecting challenges in these states' job markets
Small businesses remain vital to the U.S. economy, having added over 12.9 million jobs in the last 25 years, accounting for two-thirds of job growth
In 2021, a record-breaking 5.4 million new business applications were filed in the U.S., highlighting the ongoing importance of entrepreneurship