AI agents are entering the small business mainstream, according to survey findings announced by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. Its forthcoming survey finds 58% of small employers use agents regularly or occasionally.
Another 14% are considering or planning to use them, the council says. Karen Kerrigan, its President & CEO, outlined the findings in a Sept. 30 article.
Small Business Mainstream Adoption Includes Occasional Use
The council’s “Small Business Check Up Survey” was due for release next week, according to the article. The figures are announced findings from that forthcoming survey.
They combine regular and occasional use, rather than establishing that all those employers use agents every day. The council says 72% either use agents or are considering their use.
Kerrigan distinguishes agents from generative AI tools that produce an answer, image, analysis or content after a prompt. Agents can carry out several steps toward an authorised goal across connected applications and data.
In the council’s article, that capability is presented as a potential benefit for time-constrained entrepreneurs. Kerrigan argues it could expand what small teams can accomplish.
The council’s earlier 2026 Small Business Technology Use Survey found 82% of small business employers had adopted AI tools. The typical business used five, according to that research.
Two-thirds of users reported revenue gains tied to AI. Another finding was that 93% planned to continue investing in AI tools over the coming year.
Those results concern broader AI tools, not the same measure as agent adoption. They should not be read as proof that every business receives the same benefits.
Connected Tools Support Multi-Step Tasks
Kerrigan contrasts agents with growing firms building departments or hiring outside specialists for marketing, finance, customer service, HR, research and operations. She argues AI can provide parts of that expertise earlier and at lower cost.
That does not eliminate the need for people, she says. Her argument is that smaller teams could focus on higher-value work with additional execution capacity.
Kerrigan describes possible agent tasks including analysing sales results and developing a growth plan. Other examples include reviewing advertising, identifying customer concerns and organising information across applications.
An agent could review financial performance and flag unusual expenses. It could also track emails, calendars and projects needing follow-up, according to the article.
The council presents fragmented data and digital tools as a challenge for business owners. Kerrigan argues agents can help connect that information and turn it into action.
Meta’s Muse for Small Business is the article’s product example. Meta first introduced Muse in early September, then expanded it with skills and connectors aimed at entrepreneurs.
Kerrigan lists connections to Intuit QuickBooks, Shopify, Stripe, Canva, Slack, Asana, Dropbox, Box, Notion, Klaviyo and Zoom. The product can also connect to Facebook Pages, Instagram professional accounts and Meta ad accounts.
Meta says additional connectors are coming. These capabilities are described as product claims, rather than independently measured results for small employers.
Related coverage examines the separate Muse product launch. The council’s survey findings concern agent use more broadly.
Human Oversight In The Small Business Mainstream
Kerrigan links the small business mainstream’s interest in agents to platforms employers already use. The council’s March 2026 survey found 62% used Facebook to generate revenue and build brands.
Instagram followed at 43%, the council reports. Kerrigan says connected agents let owners work with existing accounts and advertising data alongside other business tools.
Separate related reading considers small business operational changes and small business hiring. Those reports concern different evidence and developments.
The council urges owners to understand what information agents can access and manage permissions carefully. Important outputs should be reviewed, with human oversight retained for consequential decisions.
According to Meta, Muse publishes, sends or spends nothing without the owner’s approval. Kerrigan presents that control as increasingly important as agents become connected to business operations.