Entrepreneurship in 2026: Inside the UK’s growing appetite for self-employment

New research shows that financial control is becoming one of the biggest drivers of life satisfaction for Brits — and it’s pushing more people towards entrepreneurship. 

New findings from Intuit QuickBooks’ Entrepreneurship in 2026 study show that while two-thirds of Brits (67%) say they’re satisfied with their lives, the one thing that would make them feel even more fulfilled is earning more money. Increasingly, people see entrepreneurship as the path to achieving that.

Entrepreneurial ambition is rising sharply across the UK. One-third of adults (33%) say they intend to start a new business or side hustle within the next 12 months — a 100% jump on last year. This signals a growing readiness to challenge the traditional 9–5 and pursue more flexible, autonomous ways of working.

But ambition alone isn’t enough to take the entrepreneurial leap. Financial uncertainty, lack of confidence and limited access to guidance still hold many aspiring founders back. However, with the right support — from financial planning tools to simple, affordable advice — 2026 could be the year more Brits turn their entrepreneurial ambitions into reality.

Download the data (.xlsx file).

Why money matters most: How financial pressures shape what Brits want

Money may not buy happiness outright, but for most Brits, it certainly plays a starring role. Even as overall life satisfaction climbs, people are clear about what would make them feel even better: earning more. In fact, earning more money tops the list by a wide margin, outranking improved physical health, better relationships and more free time.

This connection between money and satisfaction isn’t about materialism — it’s about control. With the cost of living still biting and financial pressures shaping day-to-day decisions, many people see increased earning potential as the most realistic way to feel more secure and more fulfilled. And for a growing number, traditional employment simply doesn’t offer that.

This shift in mindset helps explain why entrepreneurship is becoming so attractive. Starting a business or building a side hustle isn’t just about chasing a dream, it’s increasingly viewed as a practical route to improving quality of life. The chance to set your own rates, manage your own schedule, and directly influence your income is powerful, especially at a time when people feel squeezed.

The message is clear: money and satisfaction are linked, and entrepreneurship is emerging as a compelling way to close the gap.

Rising entrepreneurial ambition: Why more Brits plan to start a business in 2026

Entrepreneurial ambition isn’t just growing in the UK, it’s accelerating. More people than ever are seriously considering stepping away from traditional employment in favour of something that offers more freedom, flexibility and financial upside.

This year, two-thirds of UK adults (66%) say they plan to or are considering starting a business or side hustle — a significant jump from last year’s 52%. And the momentum doesn’t stop there. The share of people who say “yes” they intend to start a business in the next 12 months has doubled year on year, rising from 15% to 30% — a 100% increase. It’s a clear signal that this isn’t just idle curiosity. People are actively exploring new ways to take control of their working lives.

The reasons behind this shift are compelling. Brits want more autonomy over how they earn their income and how they spend their time. They want careers that reflect their passions, not just their job titles. And as confidence in traditional employment wavers, self-employment is increasingly seen as a viable, and often more rewarding, option. More than a third of Brits (38%) say starting a new business or side hustle is the best path to building wealth — ranking it above traditional employment, investments, or climbing the corporate ladder.

What’s emerging is a new mindset: one that treats entrepreneurship not as a risky leap into the unknown, but as a strategic move towards a more fulfilling and financially stable life. The appetite is here. The ambition is here. Now, people are looking for the right conditions to make it happen.

How side hustles help Brits boost income and build confidence

For many Brits, the first step towards entrepreneurship isn’t quitting their job, it’s starting something small on the side. Side hustles continue to play a major role in how people boost their income, build confidence and test new ideas without taking on the full risk of going solo.

Nearly half of UK adults (46%) now run a side hustle. For some, it’s a way to make ends meet. For others, it’s an opportunity to turn creativity or passion into extra income. But for a growing number, side hustles are more than a top-up — they’re the early stages of a bigger plan.

Among people with a side hustle, almost half (45%) say they hope to grow it into a full-time business. And even those who aren’t ready to make that leap still see real value in keeping a separate income stream. As economic pressures persist, having multiple ways to earn feels not only smart, but necessary. 

This blend of caution and ambition is reshaping how Brits think about work. Rather than relying on a single employer for financial stability, people are diversifying. They’re building income in layers, learning new skills and laying the groundwork for potential future ventures. 

The financial and knowledge gaps preventing people from taking the entrepreneurial leap

Ambition may be rising across the UK, but turning that ambition into action is another matter. For many aspiring founders, the biggest barriers aren’t a lack of ideas or motivation, they’re financial. Cost-of-living pressures, uncertainty about cash flow and limited understanding of business finances all make the leap into entrepreneurship feel riskier than it should.

A major challenge is confidence. While many people feel excited about the idea of working for themselves, far fewer feel equipped to manage the financial side of running a business. One in four (25%) say they lack the business or financial know-how to get started. Another 50% say they lack confidence in essential business tasks like managing cash flow, tracking expenses, and invoicing customers. Among those with low financial confidence, 75% say it makes it harder to achieve their personal financial goals. Without clarity around things like tax, bookkeeping or how much money they need to stay afloat, the first step can feel overwhelming.

This lack of confidence has real consequences. It doesn’t just delay decisions, it prevents people from taking action entirely. Yet we know that the right support could unlock a wave of new entrepreneurs. Six in ten Brits (60%) say they would be more likely to start a business if financial guidance were easier to access or more affordable. People aren’t looking for complicated advice; they want clear, simple tools that help them understand their numbers and plan ahead.

What is clear is that the barrier preventing many would-be entrepreneurs from starting isn’t ambition, it’s uncertainty. And with more accessible financial education and better support systems, more people could take the leap with confidence.

How AI is empowering the next wave of entrepreneurs

AI is quickly becoming a game-changer for aspiring founders. Instead of spending hours wrestling with admin or trying to learn everything from scratch, Brits are turning to AI to speed up the early stages of starting a business — and to feel more confident doing it.

Two-thirds of UK adults (67%) say they’re likely to use AI to help launch their business, while only 13% say they’re unlikely to do so. For many, AI offers a practical way to overcome the knowledge gaps and time pressures that often hold people back.

Aspiring founders plan to use AI for a wide range of early startup tasks including brainstorming business ideas or conducting market research (24%), creating websites or product listings (22%), and developing names, logos, and branding assets (15%). These aren’t small tasks — they’re the essential building blocks of a new business. By helping people generate ideas, polish their brand and get online faster, AI is lowering the barrier to entry and giving aspiring entrepreneurs a clearer path forward.

As more Brits look to take control of their working lives, AI isn’t replacing human ambition, it’s amplifying it. And for many, it could be the boost they need to finally get started.

Looking ahead: The future of UK entrepreneurship

The momentum behind UK entrepreneurship is clear. Ambition is rising, people are seeking more control over their finances and working lives, and many now see self-employment as the most direct path to both. With AI making it easier than ever to get started — and side hustles offering a low-risk way to build confidence — the foundations for a new wave of founders are already in place.

What will shape the future isn’t desire, but confidence. When people have access to simple financial guidance, easy-to-use tools and support that helps them understand their numbers, the leap into entrepreneurship feels far more achievable. If those barriers continue to fall, 2026 could be a defining year — one where more Brits than ever turn promising ideas into thriving, sustainable businesses.

Sample & methodology

In December 2025, Intuit QuickBooks commissioned an online survey of 3,000 U.S. adults age 18+, along with 1,500 adults each in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The survey focused on entrepreneurship trends and predictions for 2026, including respondents’ intent to start a business or side hustle, financial confidence, funding expectations, use of AI tools, and perceived barriers to starting a business. To ensure the findings are as representative as possible, survey results have been re-weighted using post-stratification. Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number, so values shown in charts and graphics may not add up to 100%. Responses to multiple-choice survey questions are shown as a percentage of the number of respondents, not the total number of responses, so will always sum to more than 100%. Responses were collected using Pollfish audience pools and partner networks with double opt-ins and random device engagement sampling to ensure accurate targeting and high-quality results. Respondents received remuneration.