New year, new business? 46% of Canadians want to start a business in 2026; 31% stuck on next steps

Executive Summary

• Ownr’s 2026 Entrepreneurial Outlook finds that 46 % of Canadians intend to start a business in 2026, but 31 % feel “stuck” because they don’t know where to begin.
• The top barriers cited are lack of financial readiness (45 %) and fear of failure (41 %). Compliance confusion is a concern for 32 % of respondents.
• Ownr’s CEO Jordan Casey offers four practical steps—planning, compliance automation, adopting a minimum‑viable launch mindset, and securing digital real estate—to help aspiring entrepreneurs move from intention to action.

Key Details

• Survey methodology: online poll by Prodege (Dec 18‑22 2025) on behalf of Craft Public Relations for Ownr; n = 1,000 Canadians aged 18+, margin of error ±3.1 pp at 95 % confidence.
• Intent to start a business: 46 % of Canadians list entrepreneurship as a 2026 goal.
• “Activation” anxiety: 31 % of aspiring founders say they don’t know where to start; 87 % consider quitting their current jobs, with 17 % thinking about it daily.
• Top barriers to entry:
• Not financially ready – 45 %
• Fear of failure – 41 %
• Compliance concerns: 32 % cite legal/tax requirements as a major obstacle.
• Support priorities (respondents):
• Compliance navigation – 43 %
• Business set‑up assistance – 42 %
• CEO Jordan Casey’s four tips:
  1. Build the Plan – Then Make It Official – develop a clear business plan, choose structure, register the entity.
  2. Demystify Compliance Confusion – use platforms that automate filings and minute‑books.
  3. Adopt a Minimum Viable Launch Mindset – break the journey into micro‑milestones; balance side‑hustle with day job.
  4. Claim Your Digital Real Estate Early – secure business name, domain, social handles to establish credibility.

Notable Quotes

• “Ambition is not the problem in Canada; it's the ‘activation’ that's broken,” — Jordan Casey, CEO, Ownr.