Business & Finance
US business applications increased 8% in 2025, Census Bureau data shows
Filings reached 5.6 million nationwide, heavily concentrated in major metropolitan areas alongside an unusual spike in Sheridan County, Wyoming.
The short version
- U.S. business applications rose by approximately 8% in 2025 to 5.6 million, up from 5.2 million in 2024.
- While top filing totals were mostly concentrated in large metropolitan counties, Sheridan County, Wyoming ranked 16th nationwide despite its small population.
- The surge in Sheridan County is linked to low-cost incorporation and registered agent services rather than physical local business activity.
Key facts
- Total U.S. applications for Employer Identification Numbers rose to 5.6 million in 2025, an 8% increase from 5.2 million in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.[Business Insider]
- Sheridan County, Wyoming, with a population of 33,241, recorded 47,787 business applications in 2025, ranking 16th among all U.S. counties.[Business Insider]
- Sheridan County accounted for over half of Wyoming's total 79,024 business applications filed in 2025.[Business Insider]
- University of Wyoming law professor George Mocsary attributed the high volume in Sheridan to local registered agents providing low-cost formation services and filing addresses for businesses that operate elsewhere.[Business Insider]
What remains uncertain
- The exact proportion of filed applications that ultimately resulted in operational businesses is unknown because filing an EIN application does not guarantee business formation.[Business Insider]
Sources
- See where aspiring entrepreneurs are showing the most interest in starting a business, rankedBusiness Insider metered