More and more small business owners are adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) to automate parts of their operations. This trend was highlighted in a survey conducted by the software company Lexware among nearly 3,000 entrepreneurs who employ up to nine people, according to a report covering the findings in the “Handelsblatt”. The data shows that 34 percent of respondents are already automating specific processes within their firms using AI-a significant increase from the 16 percent reported in a previous survey conducted in September 2025.
According to the survey, 64 percent of small business owners use AI at least several times a week, while 41 percent use it daily. Small enterprises play a vital role in the national economy; 85 percent of businesses in Germany have up to nine employees. These companies employ roughly nine million people and, according to calculations by the Federal Statistical Office, contribute 11.4 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.
Marcus Diekmann, a digital consultant who assists many medium-sized companies in implementing AI, believes that small businesses could be the biggest beneficiaries of the AI revolution. He explains that because these companies typically lack lengthy decision-making processes and generally have less complex compliance structures, they can integrate AI much faster than larger corporations.
Christian Steiger, CEO of Lexware, sees this development as an opportunity to foster self-employment in Germany. He stated that AI support has the potential to drastically increase the number of new startups because it has become much easier to begin a business. Steiger called this a “game changer” that could give a fresh boost to entrepreneurship.
