In a new national study, Founder Reports surveyed 1,014 American adults in September 2026 about the business ideas they have entertained over their lifetimes. The results show that entrepreneurship remains a strong aspiration, yet most ideas never become reality.
Key findings
Overall, 92.8% of respondents said they have thought of at least one business concept, but only 28.8% have actually launched a venture. A striking 64% are still carrying at least one idea that never materialized. Moreover, 73.3% reported having more than one idea, and 21.3% said they have five or more concepts they never pursued.
A parallel 2026 LendingTree poll of 2,000 adults found that 27% have seriously considered starting a business in the past year, underscoring the continued interest in entrepreneurship across the country.
Why ideas stall
The Founder Reports survey asked participants who had not launched to name the primary reason their idea died. Money was the most common obstacle, with 39.3% citing lack of funding. The second most frequent answer, at 18%, was uncertainty about the next steps.
A 2024 Justworks survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults reached a similar conclusion: 39% pointed to financing and 29% to not knowing where to begin as the biggest barriers.
Beyond financial and informational hurdles, fear of failure also plays a role. Roughly half of all new businesses fail within the first five years, making the prospect of public exposure and potential embarrassment a deterrent for many would‑be entrepreneurs.
Regret and missed opportunities
Regret appears closely tied to seeing others succeed with a similar idea. Among respondents who had never launched, only 8.8% of those who had not witnessed a peer’s success reported regret, compared with 24% of those who had watched someone else bring a comparable concept to market.
Psychological research supports this pattern. Cornell University psychologist Tom Gilovich notes that, over the long term, people tend to regret inaction more than action. Similarly, author Daniel Pink finds that regrets from not doing something outnumber those from taking action by roughly three to one.
In the Founder Reports data, respondents who stopped because they didn’t know what to do or simply never took action expressed regret at a rate of 23.5%, versus 15.7% for those who cited other reasons.
Stories of delayed success
Some entrepreneurs eventually overcome hesitation. Andrew Gazdecki, who in 2017 imagined a marketplace for small online business acquisitions, initially dismissed the idea as too niche. After seeing others execute similar concepts, he launched MicroAquire (later rebranded as Acquire) in 2020. Since then, Acquire has facilitated the sale of more than 5,000 businesses worth over $1 billion, illustrating that delayed action can still lead to substantial achievement.
Implications for aspiring entrepreneurs
The data suggest that the greatest source of lasting regret is not failure but never trying. While financing and knowledge gaps remain real challenges, the survey underscores the importance of seeking mentorship, exploring low‑cost startup resources, and taking incremental steps toward turning an idea into a viable enterprise.
Community organizations, local chambers of commerce, and online entrepreneur networks such as StartupBros can provide guidance and moral support, helping hopeful founders move beyond the “what if” mindset.
What’s next?
Founder Reports plans to repeat the survey annually, tracking how attitudes and barriers evolve as the economy and policy environment change. For now, the findings serve as a reminder that America’s entrepreneurial spirit is alive, but many would‑be business owners need practical help to bridge the gap between idea and execution.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
