How The Rise Of Global Entrepreneurship Is Reshaping The U.S. Business And Investment Market

The United States continues to attract entrepreneurs, investors and companies seeking new customers, commercial partnerships, investment opportunities and international growth. The scale of this activity can also be seen in official data. The U.S. Census Bureau recorded 578,926 business applications in July 2026 on a seasonally adjusted basis, an increase of 8.1% from June, while its forward-looking measure projected 29,959 employer business formations within four quarters from those July applications.

These figures point to an entrepreneurial environment that continues to generate a substantial pipeline of new businesses. The picture becomes even broader when the size of the existing business ecosystem is considered. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, the United States had 36,207,130 small businesses in 2026, representing 99.9% of all U.S. businesses. Small businesses employed 62.3 million people, accounting for 45.9% of private-sector employment and 43.5% of U.S. economic activity.

This environment is attracting international entrepreneurs who are looking beyond company formation itself. Some want to establish an LLC or corporation, while others already have businesses and are looking to reach American customers, develop partnerships, expand into retail, establish distribution networks or evaluate investment opportunities.

With 9 years of experience in the field, Mehmet Akif Birkan has developed a broad perspective through his work with corporate and individual clients, as well as through building and operating his own businesses in this area. His experience has brought him into contact with entrepreneurs at different stages of their journeys, from those considering their first U.S. company to established businesses evaluating expansion, investment and commercial opportunities.

Today, Birkan is positioned as a U.S. Business and Investment Advisor, working with entrepreneurs, investors and companies seeking to understand the opportunities available within the American business environment.

A Broader Interest In The U.S. Market

International interest in the United States has increasingly moved beyond the question of where to establish a company. Entrepreneurs are looking at the country as a market for customers, partnerships, investment, distribution and long-term growth. An entrepreneur may already have a successful business in another country and see the U.S. as the next stage of expansion, while a new founder may view the American market as the place to build a company from the beginning.

The diversity of these ambitions is important because the U.S. market can accommodate very different business models. A technology company may focus on American corporate customers, a consumer brand may explore online sales and physical retail, a manufacturer may seek distributors, while an investor may be interested in American companies with commercial or financial potential.

The Census Bureau's Business Formation Statistics are particularly useful in understanding this environment because they track business applications and employer business formations at national and state levels, with industry-level data also available nationally. The statistics are based on applications for Employer Identification Numbers and provide a high-frequency view of business initiation activity.

The result is a market where company formation can represent the beginning of a much larger commercial journey.

Company Formation Is A Foundation, Not The Destination

U.S. company formation remains an important part of international expansion. Entrepreneurs may establish an LLC or corporation, arrange registered agent services, secure a business address and organise accounting and tax requirements. These elements can create the corporate foundation required for operating within the American market.

The larger question comes afterwards.

Once the company exists, the entrepreneur still needs to determine how the business will reach customers, generate revenue, establish commercial relationships and develop its presence. The legal structure can support the operation, while the commercial strategy determines how that structure is used.

This distinction is becoming increasingly relevant as more entrepreneurs approach the U.S. from outside the country. A founder may complete the incorporation process while continuing to live abroad, with customers, partners and operations spread across different jurisdictions.

For this reason, company formation is increasingly being considered as part of a wider market-entry strategy rather than as an isolated service.

Birkan's perspective reflects this broader approach. His experience includes corporate and individual clients as well as the direct experience of building and operating his own businesses, creating a perspective that extends beyond administrative formation.

Existing Businesses Are Looking For Their Next Market

The U.S. opportunity is also attracting companies that already have established operations elsewhere. These businesses may have a recognised brand, proven products, established customers or an existing service model and are looking for their next stage of international growth.

For such companies, entering the United States can involve several stages. A business may first assess customer demand, establish its corporate structure and begin selling to American consumers or businesses. As the market develops, it may explore distributors, retail partners, local operations or strategic relationships.

A software company can develop a U.S. customer base. A professional services firm can work with American companies. A manufacturer can establish distribution relationships. A consumer brand can test demand online before moving into physical retail.

The route can change according to the business, while the objective remains connected to creating sustainable commercial activity in one of the world's largest markets.

Online Commerce And Physical Retail Are Expanding The Options

Digital commerce has created new routes into the American market, while physical retail continues to provide opportunities for consumer-facing companies. These channels can also work together.

A brand can test demand through online sales before developing a physical distribution network. A company with an established retail presence can use digital channels to reach customers beyond its physical footprint. Marketplaces, direct-to-consumer websites, distributors and physical stores can form part of the same expansion strategy.

This flexibility gives international entrepreneurs more options when entering the United States. A company can begin with a focused commercial presence, evaluate customer response and expand its investment as the opportunity becomes clearer.

The challenge is determining which model fits the company's product, customer profile, resources and long-term ambitions.

Investment Is Becoming Part Of The Expansion Conversation

The U.S. opportunity also extends into foreign investment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the position of foreign direct investment in the United States increased by $266 billion to $5.86 trillion at the end of 2025. The scale of that capital base demonstrates the continued importance of the United States as a destination for international investment.

Foreign multinational companies also maintain a significant presence in the American economy. BEA reported that majority-owned U.S. affiliates of foreign multinational enterprises employed 8.57 million workers in 2024, compared with 8.56 million in 2023.

These figures provide a wider context for entrepreneurs and investors considering the United States. Investment can support market entry, partnerships and expansion, while international companies can use American operations as part of broader global strategies.

An investor may evaluate a U.S. company for financial participation. An international business may seek an American partner with local knowledge. A founder may establish a U.S. company with future investment in mind. In each case, business development and investment can become closely connected.

The Infrastructure Behind The Business Still Matters

Commercial opportunity requires an appropriate corporate foundation. Registered agent services, business addresses, accounting and tax support can all form part of the infrastructure required by international entrepreneurs.

Florida and New Jersey, among other states, can be considered by international business owners evaluating corporate structures and address solutions. The appropriate choice depends on the nature of the business, its activities and the wider strategy.

For entrepreneurs living outside the United States, these considerations can become more complex because ownership, residence, customers and corporate operations may exist across several jurisdictions.

The infrastructure therefore needs to support the commercial objective. Establishing an entity and maintaining its administrative requirements can provide the foundation, while customer acquisition, sales, partnerships and investment determine how the business develops.

Experience Across Corporate And Entrepreneurial Environments

Birkan's 9 years of experience include work with both corporate and individual clients alongside building and operating his own businesses. This combination provides exposure to different perspectives within the U.S. business environment.

Corporate experience brings an understanding of structured operations and organisational requirements. Working with individual entrepreneurs brings direct exposure to the decisions founders face when establishing and expanding their businesses. Building his own companies adds another layer through direct involvement in commercial decisions, client relationships and business development.

For international entrepreneurs, this type of experience can be particularly relevant because their needs change according to their stage of development. Someone establishing a first U.S. company can have very different priorities from an established business preparing to enter the American market or an investor evaluating a commercial opportunity.

The advisory relationship therefore becomes broader when it is built around the entrepreneur's objective rather than a single service.

A Market Built Around Multiple Opportunities

The United States can serve different purposes for different businesses. For one entrepreneur, it can be the location for a new company. For another, it can become a major customer market. For an investor, it can provide access to businesses and investment opportunities. For an established brand, it can provide a platform for international expansion.

These objectives can also evolve over time. A company may begin with incorporation and later develop sales operations. A brand may start with online commerce and eventually enter physical retail. An investor may initially evaluate an opportunity and later become involved in the company's commercial development.

This evolution is changing the conversation around entering the U.S. market. Entrepreneurs increasingly need to think about what happens after the initial setup and how their presence can develop into a sustainable business.

Beyond Incorporation

The rise of global entrepreneurship is creating a broader relationship between international businesses and the United States. Census data shows continued business formation activity, SBA data highlights the scale of the country's small-business ecosystem, and BEA data demonstrates the depth of international investment in the U.S. economy.

Together, these indicators point to an environment where the opportunity extends far beyond establishing a legal entity.

Entrepreneurs are looking for customers, companies are exploring partnerships, brands are entering new sales channels and investors are evaluating American businesses. Some opportunities begin with an LLC, while others begin with an existing company, a product, an investment thesis or a commercial relationship.

Within this environment, the role of a U.S. Business and Investment Advisor becomes broader. The focus can move from company formation to market entry, from market entry to sales, and from sales to investment and long-term expansion.

Mehmet Akif Birkan's 9 years of experience across corporate environments, individual client relationships and his own businesses place him within this evolving landscape. His work reflects a wider approach to the U.S. market, where international entrepreneurs are looking for more than a company structure and increasingly seeking a clearer understanding of how to build commercial value in the United States.

For global entrepreneurs, the fundamental question is therefore becoming broader than how to establish a company.

The real question is how to enter the U.S. market, understand its opportunities, build the right commercial relationships and turn international ambition into sustainable growth.