New Business Applications
Applications for a new Employer Identification Number, a leading sign of new businesses, through September 2026.
- September 2026
- 534,947
- +4.4% from a year earlier
- High-propensity
- 147,331
- 28% of applications
- Last 12 months
- 6,326,590
- +16.9% vs. prior 12 months
Monthly applications
Seasonally adjusted, through September 2026
Show as a table
| Period | Applications |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | 534,947 |
| December 2025 | 496,139 |
| December 2024 | 464,450 |
| December 2023 | 454,137 |
| December 2022 | 423,745 |
| December 2021 | 427,901 |
| December 2020 | 351,615 |
| December 2019 | 315,267 |
| December 2018 | 298,548 |
Applications by state
12 months through September 2026
By state
12 months, not seasonally adjusted
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Applications | Prior 12 months | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 79,557 | 63,967 | +24.4% |
| Alaska | 14,218 | 9,720 | +46.3% |
| Arizona | 158,427 | 127,658 | +24.1% |
| Arkansas | 47,084 | 37,053 | +27.1% |
| California | 630,052 | 534,167 | +18.0% |
| Colorado | 170,791 | 140,229 | +21.8% |
| Connecticut | 56,941 | 47,734 | +19.3% |
| Delaware | 62,003 | 59,113 | +4.9% |
| District of Columbia | 15,914 | 14,584 | +9.1% |
| Florida | 726,100 | 631,672 | +14.9% |
| Georgia | 285,647 | 244,193 | +17.0% |
| Hawaii | 18,484 | 19,184 | -3.6% |
| Idaho | 38,298 | 32,432 | +18.1% |
| Illinois | 202,584 | 176,693 | +14.7% |
| Indiana | 101,942 | 87,559 | +16.4% |
| Iowa | 38,686 | 33,815 | +14.4% |
| Kansas | 44,080 | 34,385 | +28.2% |
| Kentucky | 79,692 | 56,756 | +40.4% |
| Louisiana | 83,957 | 68,337 | +22.9% |
| Maine | 16,156 | 14,130 | +14.3% |
| Maryland | 111,679 | 97,461 | +14.6% |
| Massachusetts | 87,618 | 76,921 | +13.9% |
| Michigan | 171,885 | 140,009 | +22.8% |
| Minnesota | 80,979 | 70,408 | +15.0% |
| Mississippi | 64,117 | 48,335 | +32.7% |
| Missouri | 123,860 | 92,149 | +34.4% |
| Montana | 33,237 | 28,807 | +15.4% |
| Nebraska | 24,449 | 21,591 | +13.2% |
| Nevada | 69,611 | 63,848 | +9.0% |
| New Hampshire | 20,660 | 16,220 | +27.4% |
| New Jersey | 180,863 | 155,980 | +16.0% |
| New Mexico | 45,234 | 37,696 | +20.0% |
| New York | 328,516 | 293,175 | +12.1% |
| North Carolina | 200,786 | 173,053 | +16.0% |
| North Dakota | 10,090 | 8,678 | +16.3% |
| Ohio | 188,687 | 153,927 | +22.6% |
| Oklahoma | 72,017 | 54,473 | +32.2% |
| Oregon | 65,596 | 65,469 | +0.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 172,099 | 151,218 | +13.8% |
| Rhode Island | 13,091 | 11,409 | +14.7% |
| South Carolina | 103,629 | 90,439 | +14.6% |
| South Dakota | 13,814 | 11,773 | +17.3% |
| Tennessee | 116,294 | 96,326 | +20.7% |
| Texas | 598,886 | 510,293 | +17.4% |
| Utah | 88,527 | 67,301 | +31.5% |
| Vermont | 8,773 | 7,344 | +19.5% |
| Virginia | 152,971 | 131,573 | +16.3% |
| Washington | 120,529 | 147,666 | -18.4% |
| West Virginia | 19,468 | 15,639 | +24.5% |
| Wisconsin | 80,352 | 65,172 | +23.3% |
| Wyoming | 87,660 | 73,332 | +19.5% |
| Puerto Rico | 26,648 | 23,725 | +12.3% |
By industry
U.S., 12 months, not seasonally adjusted
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Industry | Applications | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,253,586 | +19.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 930,447 | +30.3% |
| Construction | 567,709 | +10.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 517,067 | +8.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management | 440,146 | +20.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 409,148 | +14.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 395,631 | +17.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 332,274 | +14.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 308,374 | +18.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 238,041 | +3.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 182,564 | +17.4% |
| No industry assigned | 167,127 | +18.5% |
| Information | 143,603 | +35.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 116,227 | -0.3% |
| Educational services | 99,508 | +19.3% |
| Manufacturing | 88,102 | +0.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 77,885 | +22.5% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 46,025 | -5.0% |
| Utilities | 6,785 | -14.2% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 6,341 | +15.1% |
Frequently asked questions
- What is a business application?
- The Census Bureau counts applications for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) filed with the IRS. Each one is a sign that someone intends to start a business, though not every application becomes an active business.
- What is a high-propensity application?
- High-propensity applications are the ones most likely to turn into businesses with payroll, such as those from corporations, those that plan to pay wages, or those in certain industries.
- What are projected business formations?
- The Census Bureau estimates how many applications from a month will become employer businesses (with payroll) within four or eight quarters. The latest months are projections and are revised.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics · Last updated 09/01/2026