AI-driven entrepreneurship is spreading in an era when people can launch global businesses with just an idea, and one-person ventures are increasingly becoming the norm in the United States.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of businesses with no employees—often called solopreneurs—reached 29.8 million nationwide in 2022. These one-person operations generated $1.7 trillion in value and accounted for 6.8% of overall economic activity.
California has the largest number of one-person businesses, with 3.5 million, while Florida has the highest rate of one-person entrepreneurship relative to its population.
Data from the Small Business Administration (SBA) shows that an average of 440,000 new business applications have been filed each month this year, more than 90% higher than before the pandemic. Despite rising interest rates, inflation, and tariff pressures, the pace of new business formation has continued to strengthen.
Experts say artificial intelligence and social media platforms have opened new doors for would-be founders. Mark Valentino, head of business banking at Citizens Bank, said, “You can start a side hustle in 10 minutes now. AI acts like a virtual assistant, and ChatGPT can draft a business plan in minutes.”
Many one-person entrepreneurs now use platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Patreon to connect directly with consumers and build brands without traditional advertising budgets. Esme Lean, head of small business at TikTok, said many businesses begin “not with a formal business idea, but by turning a hobby or personal interest into a venture.”
There are currently 7.5 million businesses registered on TikTok, and the number of women entrepreneurs under 30 is growing especially fast. Lin said that in the past, entering a market without advertising money was nearly impossible, but now it is achievable “with nothing more than an authentic story.”
Experts view these changes as part of the broader creator economy. Saurav Pathak, a professor at the William & Mary School of Business, said that as more people build personal brands and earn income directly from fans, the one-person business model has grown rapidly.
Najiba Benabess, dean of the School of Business at Newman University, said technology has lowered barriers to entry. “We’re in an era where someone can run a global business with just a laptop,” she said, adding that more people now value flexibility, autonomy, and a sense of purpose over a traditional stable job.
One solo founder, Angela Berardino, who launched a marketing firm on her own using AI tools, said that technology now handles tasks such as meeting notes, research, and data analysis. “AI gives me the equivalent of interns and assistants,” she said. “It allows one person to perform at the level of a much larger organization.”
BY HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]
