63% of American Entrepreneurs Plan to Exit Their Businesses, UBS Latest Report Explains Why

Questioning AI · Behind the large-scale transfer of wealth, what factors are entrepreneurs most concerned about?

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Despite concerns over tariffs and recession warnings, top global entrepreneurs are more optimistic than ever and are quietly preparing for the largest wealth transfer in generations. Their approach is to remain calm on the surface while developing clear plans to cash out on a large scale over the next decade.

According to the latest “2026 UBS Global Entrepreneur Report,” the world’s most successful founders are generally highly optimistic, planning to significantly expand their workforce, and most notably, they are preparing for lucrative business exits.

The report surveyed 215 elite founders with annual revenues totaling $34.3 billion. It paints a picture of an entrepreneurial community almost unaffected by macroeconomic headwinds. Up to 68% of entrepreneurs are optimistic about the next 12 months. Confidence is highest in Switzerland (83%) and Europe (74%), driven mainly by surging customer demand and rapid technological advancements.

Benjamin Cavalli, Head of Strategic Clients and Global Interconnect Business at UBS, said entrepreneurs are not retreating. “Entrepreneurs are not preparing to shrink; they are preparing to reshape,” he said. “They are迎接新的一年 with ‘remarkable resilience.’”

80% plan to expand their workforce within five years

Rather than contracting, entrepreneurs are increasing their growth investments. Over the next five years, 80% of global entrepreneurs expect to grow their staff, with 37% planning to significantly hire more. Additionally, 45% are considering expanding internationally or relocating to open new markets. To boost efficiency and profit margins, they are actively embracing AI technology. 61% see AI as the most commercially promising technological opportunity. While they recognize risks such as political instability (42%) and major geopolitical conflicts (35%), they prefer to address these challenges by improving operational efficiency and diversifying markets rather than slowing down growth.

However, perhaps the most thought-provoking conclusion of the 2026 report is what’s to come: a massive wealth transfer. After successfully navigating turbulent economic conditions, many founders are preparing to sell assets on a large scale.

$34 billion exit wave: why founders ultimately choose to cash out

Nearly one-third (32%) of entrepreneurs worldwide are actively considering exiting within the next five years. Among those aged 65 and above, this rises to 57%. American entrepreneurs are leading this “cash-out wave,” with 63% planning to exit, far surpassing their European (38%) and Asia-Pacific (18%) counterparts.

When cashing out, entrepreneurs tend to choose the highest bidder. 40% expect to sell to strategic buyers within their industry, often because synergies between companies can support higher valuations. Only 23% plan to pass the business to the next generation, and just 6% consider an IPO exit.

This upcoming wave of sales stems from a clear realization among founders: they have overlooked their personal wealth accumulation. About one-third (32%) admit that by continuously reinvesting in their companies’ growth, they have failed to accumulate as much personal wealth as possible. In the U.S., nearly half (47%) report a gap in personal wealth accumulation.

But this is changing. Globally, 42% of “entrepreneurial priority” founders say that after selling their businesses, their main focus will shift to building personal wealth. As they prepare to receive these substantial gains, their anxiety shifts from corporate strategy to personal inheritance. Two-thirds (67%) prioritize helping heirs manage the upcoming wealth responsibly, while 61% are highly focused on tax efficiency during asset transfer.

As entrepreneurs turn their attention to lucrative sales and wealth management, they confidently ignore current economic noise. They are preparing to say goodbye to boards and secure the hefty rewards they deserve.

A different picture for small and medium-sized enterprises

Not everyone is equally optimistic. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism Index in the U.S. declined for the second consecutive month in February, dropping 0.5 points to 98.8. Meanwhile, expected net sales growth fell 8 percentage points to 8%, the lowest in nearly a year. Hiring plans hit their lowest point since May last year, and taxes have been the top concern for three consecutive months.

The divergence between UBS’s survey results and NFIB’s reflects structural differences in the U.S. business landscape. The entrepreneurs in UBS’s survey have sufficient capital and scale to pursue relocation, diversification, and AI investments. In contrast, small and medium-sized business owners tracked by NFIB face uncertainties from tariffs, labor shortages, and competition from large firms deploying these technologies. NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said, “Sales and profit growth have made many business owners feel better about the situation in February, but competition from large companies is putting pressure on small businesses under current economic conditions.”

The NFIB survey from March will also reflect the impact of rising energy prices related to the Iran war on small business sentiment for the first time. For these most vulnerable small firms, rising energy costs add new uncertainty to already fragile prospects. (Fortune China)

Fortune magazine used generative AI as a research tool for this article. Editors verified the accuracy of the information before publication.

Translator: Liu Jinlong

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