US Business Applications Rise 8% as Entrepreneurial Interest Shifts by County

See where aspiring entrepreneurs are showing the most interest in starting a business, ranked

A shopper walks through Santee Alley in downtown Los Angeles on July 28, 2026. Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images US Census Bureau data shows the number of business applications filed in 2025 by county. Overall, the US saw an 8% increase in 2025, possibly fueled by layoffs and the AI boom. Most were in places with big cities, though a small county in Wyoming made the top 20. Los Angeles County and Sheridan County, Wyoming, don't share many similarities, except for one main a...