Business Formations Could Reach Record 6.7M in 2026 — Evening Brief – 10.02.26
New U.S. business entity filings are on pace to reach a record 6.7 million in 2026, according to a forecast from Registered Agents Inc., which expects roughly 1.5 million formations in the fourth quarter.
The company’s published data show 4.73 million formations from January through August, up 16% from the same period in 2025. August accounted for 564,065 filings, an 11% year-over-year increase and the highest August total in its series. Activity from June through August ran about 13% ahead of the year-earlier period.
The annual projection would exceed the company’s reported six million formations in 2025 by about 12%. Registered Agents expects approximately 500,000 filings a month during the final quarter, with a smaller November decline and December rebound than last year. Its fourth-quarter forecast is about 12% above the comparable 2025 period.
The firm projects double-digit fourth-quarter growth in several states, led by Ohio at 66%, Colorado at 57% and Missouri at 43%.
Registered Agents compiles its series from new legal-entity filings in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Its tally captures entities when they are formally created.
“Q4 is shaping up to follow the familiar seasonal pattern, but with less volatility than last year,” said Molly Cavanah, the company’s vice president of revenue growth and data. The forecast leaves room for changes in filing activity during September and the year’s final three months.