Executive Summary
A March 2026 Goldman Sachs survey of over 1,200 small business owners reveals a striking paradox: AI adoption is booming, but true integration is rare. 76% of small businesses are already using AI, and 93% report positive results — yet only 14% have embedded AI fully into their core operations. The #1 barrier? A lack of training and support. This is precisely why Kinor Partners exists: to bridge that gap and turn early AI adoption into a real competitive advantage.
The Big Picture: AI Is Here — But Most Small Businesses Are Just Getting Started
Goldman Sachs released new research in March 2026 — based on their 10,000 Small Businesses Voices survey conducted by Babson College and David Binder Research — and the findings are both encouraging and sobering. Small businesses across all 50 states are embracing AI at remarkable speed. But enthusiasm alone isn't enough. The gap between "using AI" and "mastering AI" is wide — and it's costing small businesses real growth.
At Kinor Partners, we work every day to help small businesses close exactly that gap. These findings validate what we see on the ground: the opportunity is enormous, and the need for expert guidance has never been greater.
Our Commentary
The Goldman Sachs data tells a story we recognize intimately. Small business owners are resourceful and fast-moving — they are absolutely embracing AI tools. But there is a meaningful difference between experimenting with AI and building a systematic, automated engine that drives consistent revenue growth.
The 14% who have fully integrated AI are not necessarily smarter or better-funded than the other 86%. They simply had a roadmap, the right tools, and — critically — the right partners to help them implement. That is the gap Kinor Partners was built to fill, specifically for marketing, sales, and eCommerce channels like Amazon.
The survey also highlights a telling finding: 87% of small business owners see AI as a tool to augment their workforce, not replace it. We couldn't agree more. Our philosophy is centered on deploying AI to amplify your team's capabilities — automating the repetitive, high-volume tasks so your people can focus on relationship-building, strategy, and closing.
Key Takeaways from the Goldman Sachs Survey
- 76% of small businesses are currently using AI — adoption is mainstream, not emerging.
- 93% report a positive business impact — AI works. The skeptics are being left behind.
- 84% cite increased efficiency and productivity as the top benefit.
- 67% expect AI to increase revenue — small businesses are betting on AI for growth.
- 87% say AI augments rather than replaces employees — AI is a teammate, not a threat.
- Only 14% have fully integrated AI into core operations — the majority are stuck in early-stage adoption.
- 73% say they need more training and implementation resources — the demand for expert guidance is real and urgent.
- Key barriers: lack of technical expertise, difficulty choosing the right tools, and data privacy concerns.
Why This Matters for Kinor Partners Clients
Kinor Partners' mission is to help small businesses unlock 20%+ growth by deploying AI across their marketing, sales, and eCommerce operations — without the risk or cost of building that expertise in-house. The Goldman Sachs data confirms what we already know: the tools work, but the implementation gap is the real challenge.
Our clients are the businesses that want to be in the 14% — the ones who don't just use AI, but make it a core part of how they compete, scale, and win. Whether that's AI-driven content that ranks on search, personalized sales outreach, or a fully optimized Amazon store, we handle the hard part so you don't have to.
If you're one of the 73% of small businesses who knows you need better AI support, we'd love to talk.
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Source: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices Survey, conducted by Babson College and David Binder Research, January–February 2026. Survey included small business owners from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.