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AI Study

ZENBUSINESS STUDY:

AI for Small Business Owners is
No Longer Optional — It’s Essential

AI is no longer just a buzzword — it’s rapidly becoming a critical tool for small business owners. From idea generation to streamlining operations, artificial intelligence is already being integrated into many aspects of small business ownership. According to new research from ZenBusiness, over 90% of small business owners see AI as an essential part of business ownership, making it a key tool for success

But while excitement about AI is high, so is caution. Small business owners are excited about the possibilities but express concern regarding privacy, trust, and transparency​.

ZenBusiness AI Survey Key Findings

AI Awareness and Adoption Are Skyrocketing

The ZenBusiness survey highlights just how quickly AI is becoming mainstream among small business owners:

  • 87% of business owners say they have at least some familiarity with AI.
  • 90% of small business owners expect AI to be essential for operations in the near future. 
  • AI is becoming an expectation, not an option. Entrepreneurs recognize that AI-driven solutions will soon be embedded into the tools they rely on daily.

Business Owners See Both Promise and Pitfalls

Business owners are largely optimistic about artificial intelligence, but they approach adoption with caution. The biggest concern? Trust.

This balance of enthusiasm and hesitation means that AI-powered business solutions need to be transparent, ethical, and user-friendly to gain widespread adoption.

How Small Business Owners are Using AI Today

Entrepreneurs are using AI to make their businesses more creative, competitive, and efficient. 

  • Idea Generation: Over half of small business owners use AI for brainstorming and creative problem solving​.
  • Content and Document Creation: More than 40% use AI to assist with marketing copy, website content, and written materials​.
  • Data Analysis and Research: AI is helping business owners compile insights, inform strategy, and build business plans.
  • Process Automation: From scheduling to bookkeeping, AI is streamlining business operations and improving efficiency.

However, business owners remain selective about AI adoption — while they embrace automation for content and research, they prefer to interact with people when it comes to tasks that involve trust and privacy, like customer service, tax filing, and sales guidance.

The Future of AI in Small Business

AI is reshaping the way small businesses operate, helping entrepreneurs work faster and smarter, not harder. As adoption accelerates, business owners are looking for AI tools that are not only powerful but also transparent and ethical.

At ZenBusiness, we are committed to building AI-driven solutions that simplify business ownership while prioritizing trust, security, and usability.

Download the full study to explore the complete survey findings and insights into the future of AI in entrepreneurship.

Methodology

The survey was conducted online in the United States from January 17 – January 30, 2025, by Qualtrics on behalf of ZenBusiness among two audiences: ZenBusiness customers (n=390) and non-ZenBusiness small businesses who have been in business for less than five years (n=369). This survey measured the attitude, expectations, and usage of artificial intelligence (AI) in everyday life and at work. Margin of error is 5.0% for the ZenBusiness portion and 5.1% for the non-ZenBusiness portion.

For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact press@zenbusiness.com.

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ZenBusiness CEO Ross Buhrdorf & COO Shanaz Hemmati

For media inquiries and to learn more about ZenBusiness and small business trends, please contact us. We look forward to connecting with you!

Email us at press@zenbusiness.com