Small Business AI Statistics 2026
Small business AI adoption has reached a tipping point. In 2025, usage of generative AI among small firms jumped from 40% to 58%, and 76% of small businesses are either actively using AI or exploring it. The gap between small and large businesses is closing faster than any previous technology cycle. This page compiles the most current, source-verified statistics on SMB AI adoption, ROI, use cases, and barriers.
Top Small Business AI Statistics for 2026
Key Takeaways
- Small business AI usage jumped from 40% to 58% in just one year (U.S. Chamber of Commerce).
- 91% of SMBs using AI report revenue increases (Salesforce).
- The small-large business AI adoption gap shrank from 1.8x to 1.2x between 2024 and 2025 (SBA).
- 80% of SMB AI users say AI is essential for reaching new customers (Thryv).
- 82% of very small firms (under 5 employees) believe AI is not applicable to them, an education gap rather than a real limitation.
SMB AI Adoption Rates
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. small businesses using generative AI (2025) | 58% | U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2025 |
| U.S. small businesses using generative AI (2024) | 40% | U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2024 |
| SMBs using AI (10-100 employees) | 68% | Thryv, May 2025 |
| SMBs using AI (10-100 employees, 2024) | 47% | Thryv, 2024 |
| SMBs at least experimenting with AI | 75% | Salesforce, 2024 |
| Small businesses actively using or exploring AI | 76% | Reimagine Main Street / PayPal, 2025 |
| Small businesses with AI in daily operations | 25% | Reimagine Main Street, 2025 |
| Small businesses planning to adopt emerging tech including AI | 96% | U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2025 |
| Very small businesses (1-4 employees) using AI | 5.8% | SBA BTOS, 2025 |
The variance in adoption rates reflects different survey methodologies. Government data from the SBA uses stricter definitions of "production AI use," while industry surveys include experimentation and pilot programmes. The consistent finding across all sources is rapid acceleration, with year-over-year growth of 40% or more regardless of measurement method.
The Closing Adoption Gap
The SBA Office of Advocacy's longitudinal analysis reveals the most significant trend in SMB AI adoption. In February 2024, large businesses used AI at 1.8 times the rate of small businesses (11.1% vs 6.3%, using strict production definitions). By August 2025, the gap had narrowed dramatically: small business usage reached 8.8% while large business adoption held at 10.5%.
This is unprecedented. Previous technology adoption cycles, like broadband internet, saw SMBs lag large enterprises by years. With AI, small businesses are closing the gap in months. The primary drivers are the availability of free tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini), the low implementation cost of cloud-based AI, and the outsized impact of automation on small teams where every hour saved matters more.
Revenue and ROI Impact
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| SMBs with AI reporting revenue increases | 91% | Salesforce, 2024 |
| SMBs with AI reporting improved margins | 86% | Salesforce, 2024 |
| SMBs with AI reporting it helps scale operations | 87% | Salesforce, 2024 |
| Growing SMBs that have adopted AI | 83% | Salesforce, 2024 |
| Declining SMBs that have adopted AI | 55% | Salesforce, 2024 |
| SMBs saying AI will be a game-changer | 78% | Salesforce, 2024 |
| Weekly hours saved on marketing tasks alone | 5-15 hours | HubSpot, 2025 |
The correlation between AI adoption and business growth is striking. 83% of growing SMBs have adopted AI, compared to just 55% of declining businesses. And 78% of growing SMBs plan to increase AI investment, compared to 55% of their declining peers. AI adoption is not just a technology decision. It is becoming a reliable indicator of business trajectory.
Top Use Cases for Small Businesses
| Use Case | Adoption Priority | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Content marketing and generation | Most popular | Thryv, 2025 |
| Marketing and customer engagement | 77% priority | Salesforce, 2024 |
| Customer service chatbots | 59% would automate | BigSur.ai, 2025 |
| Marketing content creation willingness | 84% willing | BigSur.ai, 2025 |
| Predictive revenue trends | 45% extremely likely | Reimagine Main Street, 2025 |
| Real-time customer insights | 40% extremely likely | Reimagine Main Street, 2025 |
Marketing leads adoption because the ROI is immediately visible: a task that took 4 hours now takes under 1 hour. Customer service follows because chatbots can handle 40-60% of routine inquiries without staff, which is transformative for businesses that cannot afford a dedicated support team.
Barriers to Adoption
Despite the momentum, meaningful barriers remain. The Reimagine Main Street survey found that 51% of small business owners are "Explorers" at the cusp of adoption but have not seen enough value to commit. They need clearer ROI evidence (74%), easier-to-use tools (73%), and practical training (ranked as the top support need).
Among very small businesses with under 5 employees, 82% cite the belief that AI is not applicable to their business as their primary reason for non-adoption. This drops significantly as business size increases, which suggests the barrier is education rather than actual applicability.
Data security concerns have actually decreased by 40% year-over-year (Thryv). As AI tools have become mainstream, familiarity has replaced fear for most business owners. The remaining adoption gap is primarily about training and demonstrated use cases, not technology resistance.
“Small businesses have moved beyond wondering if they should use AI. They are determining how fast they can implement it.”
Methodology
All statistics on this page are sourced from published reports by recognized research firms, government agencies, and technology companies. Sources include the U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Salesforce, Thryv, Reimagine Main Street (PayPal), HubSpot, and others as cited. The variance in adoption rates reflects different survey methodologies and definitions of "AI use." Government data uses stricter definitions of production use, while vendor surveys include experimentation. This page is updated quarterly. Last updated: February 2026.
Sources
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Empowering Small Business Report 2025. U.S. Chamber, 2025.
- Thryv. AI and Small Business Adoption Survey, 2nd Annual. Thryv (NASDAQ: THRY), May 2025.
- Salesforce Research. New Research Reveals SMBs with AI Adoption See Stronger Revenue Growth. Salesforce, December 2024.
- SBA Office of Advocacy. AI in Business: Small Firms Closing In. U.S. Small Business Administration, September 2025.
- Reimagine Main Street / PayPal. AI Adoption Trends and Strategic Insights: Survey of Small Businesses. Public Private Strategies Institute, June 2025.
- NSBA. NSBA Highlights New Data on AI Adoption Trends in Small Businesses. National Small Business Association, June 2025.
- BigSur.ai. AI Adoption in SMBs vs Enterprises: Rates, ROI, and Barriers. BigSur.ai, 2025.
- HubSpot. State of Marketing Report 2025. HubSpot, 2025.
- ColorWhistle. Artificial Intelligence Statistics for Small Business. ColorWhistle, 2026.
- Intuit and ICIC. AI and Small Business Report 2026. Intuit, 2026.