The most successful one-person businesses have these things in common

One in three adults in the United States plans to start a business or side hustle in 2026, representing a 94% increase from the previous year, according to the Intuit QuickBooks 2026 Small Business Index. This surge in entrepreneurial interest coincides with a trend of individuals opting to work alone, as evidenced by the Census Bureau data showing that out of nearly half a million business applications filed in August 2025, fewer than 30,000 indicated plans to hire staff. These solo ventures, which now number close to 30 million and contribute $1.7 trillion to the U.S. economy, show common traits among the most successful. Top-performing one-person businesses integrate artificial intelligence beyond basic search functions, embedding it into core processes and developing custom agents for task automation. Simon Worsfold, head of data communications at Intuit QuickBooks, notes that while AI is commonly used for marketing, text, and creative tasks, a smaller but significant group leverages it operationally, enabling single operators to achieve more than in previous years. The Intuit QuickBooks study indicates that over 60% of new entrepreneurs intend to use AI for launching or managing their businesses. Furthermore, a survey by Lettuce Financial of 600 American solopreneurs revealed that those earning over $150,000 annually and operating for more than five years are highly likely to incorporate AI into their operations.