The 6 Reasons Small Businesses Fail

The number of small businesses in the United States has continued to grow, increasing by 9.7% since the start of the decade. Realizing your vision by becoming an entrepreneur is an exciting goal.

As of 2026, there are 36.2 million small businesses in the U.S., employing about 45.9% of private-sector workers, over 62.3 million people, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy.

In June 2026, the U.S. Census Bureau’s Business Formation Statistics indicated that startup activity remained strong, with 29,741 new employer businesses projected to form within four quarters of business applications filed that month.

Yet what cannot be denied is that along with a high small business startup rate comes a high failure rate. For the last 20 years or so, the same statistic has held true: About one in five small businesses cease operation before the end of their first year. According to the latest data from the Small Business Administration (SBA), the 5-year survival rate is 49.2%, the 10-year survival rate is 33.9%, and the 15-year survival rate is 25.5%.

While that downward direction looks daunting, running your own business does get easier, say economists and academics scrutinizing small business failures. “As firms establish themselves, their survival rates increase,” said the SBA’s Office of Advocacy in a report.

So how can entrepreneurs weather the storms of the early years? Can learning the reasons small businesses fail help new entrepreneurs avoid the same fate?

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You Built It, Why Didn’t They Come?

Why do small businesses fail? There are various causes for failure listed by those who study such business trends. However, the lockdowns and supply chain issues of the last few years have definitely produced some unusual — and severe — challenges.

The Covid-19 pandemic led to the permanent closing of up to 200,000 U.S. establishments above historical levels during the first year of the outbreak, said a study by economists at the Federal Reserve.

Barber shops, nail salons, and other providers of personal services seem to have been the hardest hit by Covid, accounting for more than 100,000 establishment closures beyond historically normal levels between March 2020 and February 2021, according to The Wall Street Journal.

However, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Business Formation Statistics and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, the surge in new business creation that began during the pandemic has persisted, with business applications and employer establishments remaining above pre-pandemic levels in recent years.

Myths and Truths About Small Business Success

When you talk about small business in America, a lot of “facts and figures” get thrown around. But some of these widely disseminated statistics turn out to be myths.

First, there’s the persistent belief that restaurants are the shakiest of all businesses to launch. That’s wrong. One study showed 83% of full-service restaurant startups reached the one-year mark, placing them in the middle of survival rates compared with other businesses.

Then there’s the saying that “You have to be over 30 to succeed.” Small business failure-rate statistics show that while entrepreneurs over 30 have a better chance of succeeding, many under 30 also create successful businesses.

According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data available, the businesses with up to 500 employees that show a higher chance of success are:

•   Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting

•   Utilities

•   Manufacturing

•   Real estate and rental and leasing

•   Retail trade

As for which businesses with up to 500 employees show higher failure rates, they are:

•   The mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industry

•   Information (customer service representatives, telecommunications equipment installers, and similar businesses)

•   Wholesale trade

•   Professional, scientific and technical services

•   Management of companies

Geography-wise, the states with higher rates of small business failure are the District of Columbia, Tennessee, Delaware, and Oregon. The states recording a higher chance of small business success are Washington, South Carolina, Louisiana, and California.

6 Reasons Why Small Businesses Fail

By learning the reasons small businesses fail, entrepreneurs may be better able to chart a course for success.

1. Running Out of Money

Everyone who studies small businesses says this is the chief cause of going belly up. The warning signs aren’t subtle: You don’t have enough cash to cover your business’s needs, you can’t make loan payments on time or pay your suppliers, or your customers are vanishing.

So what do you do if you have a strong idea, a thoughtful plan, a customer base — but you are still on shaky ground? You must get a firm grasp of not just what you need but what you make.

Owners sometimes know what funds are needed day to day, but not how much revenue is being generated. Consultants and mentors, some of them available at no cost, can leap in and help you analyze your finances. Learning what kind of small business loans exist will undoubtedly help as well.

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2. Failing to Connect with Customers

At a Goldman Sachs-sponsored business panel, Warren Buffett told audience members, “Tomorrow morning, when you look in the mirror after you’ve gotten up, write — put it in lipstick or whatever you want on the mirror — just put ‘delight my customer.’ The phrase is not ‘satisfy my customer.’”

DeLisa Clift, a certified mentor with SCORE, says one of the main reasons for small business failure is the new owners “fail to perform market research to determine if the product or service they want to sell is needed or wanted by the customer.”

As Amazon’s Jeff Bezos once said, “We innovate by starting with the customer and working backwards. That becomes the touchstone for how we invent.”

Ideally, your small business should solve a problem that customers have, and in a way that your business can do better than any of your competitors. But even if you have found such an opportunity, you must understand your customer inside and out and make their happiness your priority. That way, the customers will be out there, spreading positive word of mouth. And there’s nothing more valuable.

How to fix this?

“If you started your own business and you can’t seem to find enough customers, the first thing you should do is evaluate if you are clear who your ideal customer is,” says Clift. Look at the customers that you already have and see if you can add additional products or services to what you are already providing them. Conduct market research to find where your ideal customer is, what they are buying, and how often they buy.

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3. Lacking Effective Marketing

One of the more frustrating failures has to be a small business that has everything going for it with great services or products that would meet customer needs — but people can’t get excited about a business if they don’t know it exists. Some business owners don’t understand marketing, particularly the role of social media, or they acknowledge it’s crucially important but don’t put the time into learning it. This can quickly prove fatal when trying to compete with Big Retail and e-commerce, not to mention local competitors.

A recent Stanford Business School study showed a leap in sales of nearly 20% after marketing was improved in a focus group of mom-and-pop retail stores in Mexico City. “Marketing improvements like the ones in the study could position the less organized small retail sector to compete more effectively with big retailers, which has direct implications for local jobs and livelihoods,” concluded the study.

In 2026, you can’t hope to succeed without a grasp of marketing and social media, from Facebook to LinkedIn to TikTok. Carve out the time for classes, workshops, or tutorials. Outsourcing the marketing is an option if you can afford it, though remember that authenticity goes a long way in social media. No one knows your business better than you do.

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4. Creating an Inadequate Business Plan

A lack of a thorough business plan could come back to haunt you after you open the doors for customers. It’s not just that you’ll need it to seek small business loans and grants. Developing a business plan will motivate you to think through your market and business fundamentals. Without this concrete plan for your business future, you are more likely to make serious mistakes.

“As with many aspects of the entrepreneurial universe, there are many misconceptions surrounding their business plan,” writes Ken Colwell, author of the bestseller Starting a Business: QuickStart Guide. “Because of this, business plans are often seen as a waste of time. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Done the right way, a business plan is:

•   A communication tool: It will be an effective mode of educating potential founding team members, stakeholders, and prospective employers.

•   A planning tool: While you’re developing your strategy, you’re becoming fluent in your market and industry.

•   A discovery tool: As you’re writing your plan, you will inevitably find gaps in your knowledge, and this is the ideal time to fill them.

5. Making Poor Management Decisions

What sometimes happens is that the mindset that helps you come up with a business opportunity, develop it, and market it is not automatically the right mindset to manage a small business.

You might lack the qualities of a strong manager, and you don’t feel you have the time to successfully oversee your employees. This could lead to burnout, holding back from growth when it’s needed. Or you may hire people but delegate poorly.

It’s important to know when to hire, how to train, and when to delegate if your business stands a chance of success.

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6. Pivoting Too Late — or Too Soon

Certain famous entrepreneurs are known for their praise of failure.

“One of my favorite sayings is, it doesn’t matter how many times you fail, you only have to be right one time,” says billionaire Mark Cuban. “Then everybody can call you an overnight success. I’ve failed at a company that sold powdered milk, I failed the jobs I’ve gotten fired from. And all those were learning experiences.”

It’s undoubtedly true that failure is an important teacher. However, one academic who has studied entrepreneurs says that it’s more nuanced than just knowing how to bounce back from a business flop.

Wharton management professor Jacqueline “Jax” Kirtley said in an interview. “One of the things that I found that was quite surprising to me is that for all of technology entrepreneurs’ talk of ‘When we hit a roadblock, we’ll pivot,’ they don’t. When they hit trouble, hit problems, they firefight. They solve them. It’s the entrepreneur’s way.”

She continued, “When firms do change, when they evolve or really massively change what they do — when we look back and call it a ‘pivot’ — it’s actually because of an opportunity that appeared that they jumped on. That starts off this chain of events that changes their strategy, so that when something does go wrong, they’ve got this other path that they’re already on.”

Knowing when to firefight and when to pivot can help you survive the tough challenges.

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The Takeaway

Diagnosing the causes of small business problems can help put your company on the right path. Small business grants can prove a useful source of revenue, marketing assets, and other forms of support. As for funding a business, various types of loans may bolster the bottom line and allow for hiring and expansion.

Ready to grow your business? SoFi Small Business Loans can give you fast access to the capital you need. Check your eligibility in minutes.

With SoFi Small Business Loans, it's fast and easy to get the financing your business needs to thrive.

FAQ

What is the most common reason small businesses fail?

Poor cash flow management is one of the leading reasons small businesses close. Even profitable businesses can struggle if they don’t have enough cash available to cover operating expenses, payroll, or unexpected costs. Monitoring cash flow regularly and maintaining a financial cushion can help reduce this risk.

Do I really need a business plan?

Yes. A business plan serves as a roadmap for your business by outlining your goals, target market, financial projections, and growth strategy. It can also improve your chances of securing financing from lenders or investors.

Why is market research important before starting a business?

Market research helps you determine whether there is demand for your product or service and identify your ideal customer. It also provides insights into competitors, pricing, and customer preferences, allowing you to make more informed business decisions before investing significant time or money.

How can marketing help a small business succeed?

Marketing helps potential customers discover your business and understand the value you offer. Consistent marketing through channels such as social media, email, and search engines can increase brand awareness, attract new customers, and encourage repeat business.

Should I ask for help when running my business?

Yes. Seeking advice from experienced mentors, accountants, attorneys, or business consultants can help you avoid common mistakes and solve challenges more effectively. Outside perspectives can also help you identify opportunities for growth that you may have overlooked.

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Photo credit: iStock/shapecharge

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