71%About 7 in 10of US small employer firms that use AI said it increased productivity; 31% reported higher sales
71% of US small employer firms that use AI said it increased productivity; 31% reported higher sales (Sep-Nov 2025, Federal Reserve Banks, Small Business Credit Survey)
SurveyChecked at source, 23 Oct 2026SmallUSAAI · Small business
AI use among US small employer firms (2025 survey)
Group
Small employer firms
Use AI now
46%
Plan to start in 12 months
15%
No plans
33%
Source: Federal Reserve Banks, Small Business Credit SurveyFederal Reserve Banks, Small Business Credit Survey 2025: 6,525 firms with 1-499 staff, convenience sample. The reference line is a different survey (Census) shown for scale only.digitaltreed.com/statistics
In plain words
What this number really says
71% of US small employer firms that use AI said it increased productivity; 31% reported higher sales (Sep-Nov 2025).
71%
the latest figure (Sep-Nov 2025)
Small
company size covered
Survey
type of source
Why you can trust it. Federal Reserve Banks, Small Business Credit Survey: survey, sampled survey with a published method. 6,525 responses from a nationwide convenience sample of small employer firms with 1 to 499 employees, fielded 3 Sep to 14 Nov 2025.
Compare yourself with the published data for firms your size.
24.3%
of US firms with 1 to 4 employees used AI in a business function in the last two weeks, close to the 24.6% national rate (small firms, USA). All firms: 24.6%.
You are here: with the firms not doing this yet
Most firms your size have not started either, so an early start is still an edge.
Federal Reserve Banks, Small Business Credit Survey
Source type
Survey: Sampled survey with a published method
What it measures
71% of US small employer firms that use AI said it increased productivity; 31% reported higher sales
Data period
Sep-Nov 2025 (ends 14 Nov 2025)
Published by the source
3 Mar 2026
Who is counted
6,525 responses from a nationwide convenience sample of small employer firms with 1 to 499 employees, fielded 3 Sep to 14 Nov 2025.
In the source's words
While the vast majority of firms that use AI experienced no change in their labor costs because of AI, 71% said its use led to increased productivity, 39% noted improved quality of goods and services, and 31% reported higher sales.
Checked at source
23 Oct 2026: Read on fedsmallbusiness.org, 2026-10-23.
Reuse
Free to quote with credit. Convenience sample, not random; cite "Federal Reserve Banks, Small Business Credit Survey".
No changes recorded yet. First checked at the source on 23 Oct 2026.
Cite this number
APA
Federal Reserve Banks. (2026). 71% of US small employer firms that use AI said it increased productivity; 31% reported higher sales. Via digitaltreed, https://digitaltreed.com/statistics/ai/small-firm-ai-users-higher-productivity
MLA
"71% of US small employer firms that use AI said it increased productivity; 31% reported higher sales." Federal Reserve Banks, Small Business Credit Survey, Sep-Nov 2025. digitaltreed, https://digitaltreed.com/statistics/ai/small-firm-ai-users-higher-productivity.
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FAQ
Questions about this number
What is the latest figure for small business (USA)?
71% of US small employer firms that use AI said it increased productivity; 31% reported higher sales, for Sep-Nov 2025, according to Federal Reserve Banks, Small Business Credit Survey. We checked it at the source on 23 Oct 2026.
Related
More AI statistics
SurveySmallUSA
46%
of US small employer firms said the business or its employees use AI; another 15% plan to start within 12 months
Sample: 6,525 responses from a nationwide convenience sample of small employer firms with 1 to 499 employees, fielded 3 Sep to 14 Nov 2025.
of US employer businesses used AI in a business function in the two weeks before the survey (5-18 Oct 2026)
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of US employer businesses expect to use AI in a business function in the next six months (survey of 5-18 Oct 2026)
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
