Mapping the Entrepreneurial Surge: Where New Businesses Are Born

The latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show an 8% increase in applications for Employer Identification Numbers compared to the previous year. This growth, rising from 5.2 million in 2024, tracks with broader economic trends, including a cooling labor market that has encouraged displaced workers to pursue independent ventures. Additionally, the rapid expansion of AI tools has lowered traditional barriers to entry, fueling what many observers characterize as a golden age for new startups.

Sheridan County, Wyoming, stands out as a statistical outlier. Despite a population of just 33,241, the county reported 47,787 applications—a staggering 1,438 per 1,000 residents. George Mocsary, a legal expert at the University of Wyoming, explains that this volume reflects a specialized industry rather than local industrial growth. Wyoming has cultivated a robust infrastructure for low-cost business formation, where registered agents provide official addresses for small LLCs. Consequently, thousands of entrepreneurs nationwide use Sheridan-based services for their filings, creating a massive footprint for entities that may operate entirely elsewhere.