553,918 New Businesses Formed in July, Bringing 2026 Total to 4.12 Million
July Formations Increase 6% From Last Year as Entrepreneurship Remains Near Historic Highs
Sheridan, WY, August 12, 2026 – Registered Agents Inc, the nation’s largest business formation service provider, today released its July 2026 New Business Formation Report, revealing that the record-setting pace of American entrepreneurship continued into the second half of the year.
A total of 553,918 new businesses were formed nationwide in July, making it the strongest July on record. Formation activity increased 6% from July 2025 and 21% from July 2024, when 455,830 new businesses were formed.
Through the first seven months of 2026, approximately 4.12 million new businesses have been formed across the United States. That is 15% more than during the same period in 2025, demonstrating that the entrepreneurial momentum established during the first half of the year has continued into the third quarter.
Although national formations declined 4.3% month over month, the decrease was consistent with the seasonal slowdown typically seen during the summer. July’s record total indicates that the underlying level of business creation remains historically strong.
“The second half of 2026 is starting from a remarkably high baseline,” said Molly Cavanah, VP of Revenue Growth and Data at Registered Agents Inc. “The entrepreneurial momentum we have tracked throughout the year has clear staying power. Americans continue to pursue business ownership despite economic uncertainty, inflation, and changes in the labor market.”
Key Highlights From the July 2026 Report
- Highest July on Record: Nationwide formations reached 553,918, up 6% from July 2025 and 21% from July 2024.
- Year-to-Date Growth Remains Strong: Approximately 4.12 million businesses were formed through July, 15% more than during the same period in 2025.
- State Growth Leaders: Strong annual growth was seen in Mississippi at 60%, Missouri at 57%, Alabama at 51%, North Dakota at 46%, and Oregon at 43%.
Mississippi posted the strongest monthly growth among the leading states, increasing 18% to 7,708 formations. New Mexico and West Virginia each grew 17% month over month, while North Dakota matched Utah’s 15% increase.
Oregon continued its strong 2026 performance with 8,470 new formations, up 43% from July 2025. July marked the state’s seventh consecutive month with annual formation growth above 30%. North Dakota also extended its streak, recording a seventh consecutive month of double-digit annual growth.
Florida, Texas, and California remained the nation’s highest-volume states. Florida recorded 57,527 new formations, followed by Texas with 44,599 and California with 43,782. Delaware and Wyoming completed the top five with 30,426 and 22,832 formations, respectively.
The report also found continued confidence among established business owners. Sixty-one percent of surveyed owners said they were very optimistic about their businesses’ success over the next 12 months. Forty-six percent said their businesses were stronger than they were at the same time last year, while another 29% said business conditions were approximately unchanged.
July’s results show that the historic rise in American entrepreneurship is not limited to a single month or quarter. Despite seasonal fluctuations and broader economic uncertainty, business formation activity remains substantially above recent years, signaling continued confidence, resilience, and demand for business ownership.
The full July 2026 New Business Formation Report, including complete state-by-state comparisons, historical trends, and business owner sentiment data, is available at:
About Registered Agents Inc
Registered Agents Inc is a privately owned company and the nation’s largest provider of registered agent services, compliance solutions, and full corporate identity services. The company helps hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs every year start their businesses and establish a legitimate, professional presence online and in their local communities.
Using its extensive internal data systems, Registered Agents Inc publishes its monthly Business Formation Report based on state-level entity filings from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The data is cross-referenced with U.S. Census data to provide timely insights into business creation and the health of the small business economy.
