A new Exit Factor survey released on October 15, 2026, found that 57% of owners lean heavily on their business. They expect a sale or ongoing income to fund their next life stage. Researchscape International polled 1,104 U.S. owners between August 24 and September 11.
Self-employed readers sit at the center of this finding. A one-person business often has no employer retirement plan, no match, and no buyer waiting. The survey shows how many owners have put off planning to protect that dependence.
What The Survey Actually Found
Nearly two-thirds of owners hold at least half of their personal net worth in the business. Fifty-two percent feel very or completely confident they could exit successfully if they had to start tomorrow. Yet one-third have taken no steps to plan an exit.
Only 18% have paid for a professional valuation. Another 27% rely on a rough personal estimate. Fifteen percent have a formal written exit plan, and 13% work with a paid exit planning advisor.
Forty-seven percent say it feels too early to think about exiting. Forty-five percent say a health issue or scare would push them to start. Together, those numbers describe owners who feel ready but have not prepared.
Why This Matters For Self-Employed Business Owners
Concentration is the risk. When most of your net worth rides on one business, a client loss hits twice. It cuts your paycheck today and your plans for later.
Exit Factor president Peter Giese said exit planning “isn’t about deciding that you’re ready to sell tomorrow.” He described an exit as “both a business transition and a personal transition.” Selling a solo business can be hard because so much value sits in the owner’s relationships and skills.
Exit Factor sells exit planning services and belongs to United Franchise Group. Treat the survey as a useful signal, not neutral research.
What Self-Employed Owners Should Do Next
Get a rough value for your business, even if you run a one-person shop. Look at recurring revenue, client concentration, and what a buyer would actually receive if you stepped away. You don’t need a professional valuation every year.
A first valuation can show how much of your worth depends on you personally. Open a retirement account for the self-employed, such as a solo 401(k) or SEP IRA. That way, your future does not rest only on a sale.
Check the options with a CPA or financial advisor. Write down a simple plan covering who could take over client work and where your documents live. Add what you would do if you had to stop working for several months.
What To Watch Next
Watch for follow-up data on how many solo owners hold retirement savings outside their business. That would show whether this dependence is improving or worsening. Our look at the G&A Partners small business readiness report points to the same preparedness gap.
That report found one in five small firms fear closing within a year. Keep an eye out for the IRS’s annual retirement contribution limit announcement, which usually arrives in the fall. Many owners wait for a health scare before planning, and that is a good reason to start sooner.
Photo by Kevin Wang: Unsplash
