SME Dreams Interactive hub

I prioritize predictability in my business/work, so I can feel confident in a stable future

My top priority is that my business/work supports my health, relationships, and personal life

I want my work to reflect who I am and what I care about

I primarily want my business/work to have a positive impact

I want my business/work to build a deep relationships with customers, even if reach is more limited

I want my brand to matter deeply to those it serves, even if it’s a smaller, niche group

I prioritize fast growth in my business/work, even if that means taking risks and dealing with uncertainty

My top priority is to grow my work and career, even if I must make personal sacrifices

I want to build a business/brand that can grow beyond me, even if it becomes less personal

I primarily want my business/work to maximize income and financial success

I want my brand to be widely known and influential

I want my business/work to reach as many customers as possible, even if the relationships are relatively light touch

68%

32%

61%

39%

61%

39%

56%

44%

52%

48%

50%

*Mastercard survey of 6,615 small businesses globally, 2026

For many SMEs leaders, finding balance between growth and stability that supports their wellbeing is a priority

All SMEs

Region

Market highlights

Business size

Business type

Industry

I prioritize predictability in my business/work, so I can feel confident in a stable future

My top priority is that my business/work supports my health, relationships, and personal life

I want my work to reflect who I am and what I care about

I primarily want my business/work to have a positive impact

I want my business/work to build a deep relationships with customers, even if reach is more limited

I want my brand to matter deeply to those it serves, even if it’s a smaller, niche group

I prioritize fast growth in my business/work, even if that means taking risks and dealing with uncertainty

My top priority is to grow my work and career, even if I must make personal sacrifices

I want to build a business/brand that can grow beyond me, even if it becomes less personal

I primarily want my business/work to maximize income and financial success

I want my brand to be widely known and influential

I want my business/work to reach as many customers as possible, even if the relationships are relatively light touch

59%

62%

53%

67%

Region

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North America

Latin America

Europe

Middle East and Africa

Asia Pacific

67%

69%

74%

67%

54%

62%

64%

55%

53%

52%

51%

52%

62%

66%

57%

54%

60%

57%

59%

54%

61%

50%

60%

70%

60%

70%

● North America

● Latin America

● Europe

● Middle East and Africa

● Asia Pacific

*Mastercard survey of 6,615 small businesses globally, 2026

Middle East and Asia-Pacific are most scale-focused, while Latin America, Europe and North America need growth to feel sustainable

All SMEs

Region

Market highlights

Business size

Business type

Industry

I prioritize predictability in my business/work, so I can feel confident in a stable future

My top priority is that my business/work supports my health, relationships, and personal life

I want my work to reflect who I am and what I care about

I primarily want my business/work to have a positive impact

I want my business/work to build a deep relationships with customers, even if reach is more limited

I want my brand to matter deeply to those it serves, even if it’s a smaller, niche group

I prioritize fast growth in my business/work, even if that means taking risks and dealing with uncertainty

My top priority is to grow my work and career, even if I must make personal sacrifices

I want to build a business/brand that can grow beyond me, even if it becomes less personal

I primarily want my business/work to maximize income and financial success

I want my brand to be widely known and influential

I want my business/work to reach as many customers as possible, even if the relationships are relatively light touch

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CANADA

BRAZIL

AUSTRALIA

Market highlights

76%

72%

65%

69%

68%

71%

67%

60%

64%

63%

65%

64%

57%

61%

58%

55%

53%

49%

52%

50%

69%

61%

63%

62%

55%

61%

59%

● US

● CANADA

● BRAZIL

● UK

● AUSTRALIA

50%

60%

70%

*Mastercard survey of 6,615 small businesses globally, 2026

Small businesses in the Americas most want to make a positive impact, and also be widely known and influential

All SMEs

Region

Market highlights

Business size

Business type

Industry

I prioritize predictability in my business/work, so I can feel confident in a stable future

My top priority is that my business/work supports my health, relationships, and personal life

I want my work to reflect who I am and what I care about

I primarily want my business/work to have a positive impact

I want my business/work to build a deep relationships with customers, even if reach is more limited

I want my brand to matter deeply to those it serves, even if it’s a smaller, niche group

I prioritize fast growth in my business/work, even if that means taking risks and dealing with uncertainty

My top priority is to grow my work and career, even if I must make personal sacrifices

I want to build a business/brand that can grow beyond me, even if it becomes less personal

I primarily want my business/work to maximize income and financial success

I want my brand to be widely known and influential

I want my business/work to reach as many customers as possible, even if the relationships are relatively light touch

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MICRO

SMALL

MEDIUM

EEMEA

Business size

67%

61%

73%

58%

57%

65%

53%

52%

56%

50%

53%

58%

60%

56%

66%

53%

59%

57%

● MICRO

● SMALL

● MEDIUM

50%

60%

70%

*Mastercard survey of 6,615 small businesses globally, 2026

Medium businesses are more growth-oriented; Micro businesses seek predictability and balance

All SMEs

Region

Market highlights

Business size

Business type

Industry

I prioritize predictability in my business/work, so I can feel confident in a stable future

My top priority is that my business/work supports my health, relationships, and personal life

I want my work to reflect who I am and what I care about

I primarily want my business/work to have a positive impact

I want my business/work to build a deep relationships with customers, even if reach is more limited

I want my brand to matter deeply to those it serves, even if it’s a smaller, niche group

I prioritize fast growth in my business/work, even if that means taking risks and dealing with uncertainty

My top priority is to grow my work and career, even if I must make personal sacrifices

I want to build a business/brand that can grow beyond me, even if it becomes less personal

I primarily want my business/work to maximize income and financial success

I want my brand to be widely known and influential

I want my business/work to reach as many customers as possible, even if the relationships are relatively light touch

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Small business owner

Content-powered bUSINESS

C-Suite

SOLOPRENEUR

INFLUENCER/content creator

Business type

73%

58%

68%

66%

68%

67%

54%

64%

61%

58%

62%

53%

55%

54%

52%

53%

52%

50%

64%

55%

63%

61%

59%

61%

64%

57%

51%

59%

● Small business owner

● Content-powered bUSINESS

● C-SUITe

● SOLOPRENEUr

● INFLUENCER/content creator

50%

60%

70%

*Mastercard survey of 6,615 small businesses globally, 2026

Content-led SMEs are more scale-oriented, while operators and solopreneurs need stability cues

All SMEs

Region

Market highlights

Business size

Business type

Industry

I prioritize predictability in my business/work, so I can feel confident in a stable future

My top priority is that my business/work supports my health, relationships, and personal life

I want my work to reflect who I am and what I care about

I primarily want my business/work to have a positive impact

I want my business/work to build a deep relationships with customers, even if reach is more limited

I want my brand to matter deeply to those it serves, even if it’s a smaller, niche group

I prioritize fast growth in my business/work, even if that means taking risks and dealing with uncertainty

My top priority is to grow my work and career, even if I must make personal sacrifices

I want to build a business/brand that can grow beyond me, even if it becomes less personal

I primarily want my business/work to maximize income and financial success

I want my brand to be widely known and influential

I want my business/work to reach as many customers as possible, even if the relationships are relatively light touch

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All

INDUSTRY aND PRODUCTION

CONSTRUCTION, AUTOMOTIVE, TRADES

SERVICES & HOSPITALITY

PUBLIC, INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES

COMMERCE, TRADE

Industry

71%

65%

69%

67%

70%

65%

60%

64%

61%

56%

62%

59%

56%

54%

57%

56%

60%

57%

51%

53%

52%

55%

61%

65%

68%

61%

63%

59%

54%

57%

58%

54%

55%

● INDUSTRY AND PRODUCTION

● CONSTRUCTION, AUTOMOTIVE, TRADES

● SERVICES & HOSPITALITY

● PUBLIC, INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES

● COMMERCE, TRADE

● BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY, PROFESSIONAL

BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY, PROFESSIONAL

50%

60%

70%

*Mastercard survey of 6,615 small businesses globally, 2026

Industry growth needs vary from stable output to customer reach to business performance

All SMEs

Region

Market highlights

Business size

Business type

Industry