The Agenda for Illinois’ Entrepreneurs

Small Business Majority’s Illinois policy agenda outlines policies that advance and promote equitable pathways for entrepreneurship while ensuring small businesses are key to a thriving and inclusive economy. Illinois' 1.3 million small businesses employ 2.3 million people, representing 43.6% of the private workforce. This agenda recognizes the distinct needs of both solopreneurs, who make up 80% of all businesses, and employer firms. Importantly, it acknowledges that business owners are individuals whose personal economic security directly impacts their business’s success and their ability to create quality jobs.

In 2025, small businesses continue to see both opportunities and challenges ahead, and we recognize that many small businesses, particularly those owned by entrepreneurs of color, women, immigrants and those in rural communities, continue to face systemic hurdles. Our 2025 agenda provides a framework for addressing these disparities to build an ecosystem where all small businesses can thrive and that will ensure our local economies are strong and resilient.