Business
New year, new business? 46% of Canadians want to start a business in 2026; 31% stuck on next steps
New year, new business? 46% of Canadians want to start a business in 2026; 31% stuck on next step...
About this update from Royal Bank Of Canada
[{"type":"text","content":"New year, new business? 46% of Canadians want to start a business in 2026; 31% stuck on next steps\n\n\nNew year, new business? 46% of Canadians want to start a business in 2026; 31% stuck on next steps\n\n/* Style Definitions */\nspan.prnews_span\n{\nfont-size:8pt;\nfont-family:\"Arial\";\ncolor:black;\n}\na.prnews_a\n{\ncolor:blue;\n}\nli.prnews_li\n{\nfont-size:8pt;\nfont-family:\"Arial\";\ncolor:black;\n}\np.prnews_p\n{\nfont-size:0.62em;\nfont-family:\"Arial\";\ncolor:black;\nmargin:0in;\n}\n.prntac{\nTEXT-ALIGN: CENTER\n}\n\n\n\n\n\nCanada NewsWire\n\n\nPreparation anxiety is real: Data from Ownr reveals nearly a third of aspiring entrepreneurs say they \"don't know where to start\", only 11% say they're \"very prepared to launch\"\nTORONTO, Jan. 14, 2026 /CNW/ - An influx of new businesses could be on the horizon in 2026 as more Canadians consider becoming their own boss. According to new research from Ownr*, the platform for helping entrepreneurs start, manage and grow their small businesses in Canada, conducted via Pollfish, nearly half of Canadians say starting their own business is one of their goals for the year ahead.\nBut turning those intentions into reality? That's where the real work begins.\nThe findings from Ownr's 2026 Entrepreneurial Outlook point to a sense of preparation anxiety among aspiring entrepreneurs. While 87 per cent of aspiring founders consider quitting their current jobs to start a business (with 17 per cent thinking about it every single day), nearly one third (31 per cent) of these respondents say they don't know where to begin. These findings reveal that ambition to start a business is high, but clarity around the \"how\" of business ownership is lacking.\n\"Ambition is not the problem in Canada; it's the 'activation' that's broken,\" explains Jordan Casey, CEO of Ownr. \"This data shows that Canadians are ready to work for themselves, but they're being sidelined by a complex administrative landscape, and a lack of education and support.\"\nKey insights from Ownr's 2026 Entrepreneurial Outlook:\nTop Barriers to Entry: When asked what is stopping them from starting a business, Canadians cited not feeling financially ready (45 per cent) and fear of failure (41 per cent) as the primary reasons they haven't taken action.Compliance Confusion: 32 per cent of respondents identified compliance as a ...