Entrepreneurship has been growing for over a decade but the pandemic pushed that growth into overdrive, with a nearly 25 percent increase between 2019 to 2020.
All signs indicate that number will continue to grow because of economic uncertainty, the side-hustle lifestyle, and vaccine mandates. So it’s only logical to conclude this level of growth in entrepreneurship will continue for the foreseeable future.
Fox Business Network has been quietly preparing for this growth with an all-new lineup of programs focused on the small business community and the American Dream.
This is a tremendous opportunity because while this is the backbone of America, there hasn’t been much programming dedicated to it until now.
What is small business?
The SBA defines it as any company with fewer than 1,500 employees and less than $38.5 million in revenue.
That’s a lot of businesses. The potential audience is enormous.
Today, there are 30.2 million small businesses in the United States, according to the Small Business Administration. This makes up 99.9 percent of all U.S. businesses. Businesses with less than 100 workers employ the largest share of American workers. Those small businesses employ 48 percent of all US employees, a slight decline from 52 percent in the early 2000s. 18 percent of all US employees work for businesses with fewer than 20 employees.
While some outlets have done a phenomenal job at serving this audience, it has been underserved by news networks.
Lauren Petterson, the president of Fox Business Network, said that the focus of the programming is “on success stories across key American industries.”
The network believes this new programming will inspire entrepreneurs and give them the information to make better business decisions. This will be especially important with the economic turmoil many experts are expecting in the coming years.
American Built, with host, Stuart Varney
Stuart Varney, the host of one of FBN Prime’s new programs, shared his perspective, saying:
“American Built is a journey into engineering genius. The Americans who opened up this giant continent were innovative risk-takers. Similar in many ways to the young entrepreneurs who started today’s great American technology companies. It’s an exciting story and as an immigrant, I’m proud to tell it.
I started my career in America in a small, entrepreneurial business. Myself and two partners bought three hours of air time for my tiny cable station. We put on one of the earliest financial shows. That’s the thing about small business. They don’t care who you are or where you came from, they just want to know if you can do the job!”
From the insight shared by the hosts and guests, viewers will get breaking business news, up-to-date data, expert analysis, and forward-thinking ideas—all to help navigate the uncertain economy entrepreneurs face today.
Small business plays a critical role in our economy
Without small business, I believe America would shrink to a fraction of what it is today.
It’s the driving force behind a majority of innovation and it gives consumers more choices. Without it, we would be locked into a few monolithic corporations. That’s not conducive to a strong and stable economy, and it detracts from the freedom that makes this country so amazing.
The American Dream
As for the American Dream—despite what some may believe today, I believe it’s still alive and well. I also believe those who claim otherwise are blinded by the fact that life in America today is better than it’s ever been. As a result, many expect everything to come easy.
But the American Dream was never about being handed a utopia.
It was always about having the opportunity to pursue your dreams and build a better life for yourself. That opportunity never came with a guarantee, nor will it ever.
I believe many have lost sight of that fact. By educating people about what others have had to overcome to achieve their goals, I believe mindsets will be changed. Not only what’s possible, but more importantly, what it takes to achieve something of significance.
FBN Prime lineup & schedule
- American Built, with Stuart Varney, takes a deep dive into American innovation and accomplishments throughout America’s history and will air Mondays at 9 PM.
- How America Works hosted by Mike Rowe, showcases the Americans who work nonstop to keep our infrastructure in working order. The series airs Mondays at 8 PM.
- The Pursuit!, With John Rich, features in-depth interviews with music stars, celebrities, and entrepreneurs, and will air Wednesdays at 9 PM.
- Mansion Global, hosted by Kacie McDonnell, covers the exclusive world of ultra-luxury real estate. This series airs on Tuesdays at 9 PM.
- American Dream Home, hosted by Cheryl Casone, delves into the real estate markets across America as buyers search for their “forever home.” This series airs on Tuesdays at 8 PM.
- American Gold follows a family mining for gold in Bear Gulch, MT, and will air Wednesdays at 8 PM.
As an entrepreneur, I personally look forward to this new lineup and the value I expect it to bring. And I suspect a majority of other entrepreneurs do as well.
