Skip to main content

KPMG 2026 US Family Business Report

From ambition to architecture: Make bold moves worthy of your ambition

KPMG 2026 US Family Business report

US family business leaders have big ambitions and the confidence to back it up. But they also recognize they may lack some of the architecture they need to sustain their ambitious goals.

Our survey reinforces this reality. It shows that US family business leaders have clear growth strategies but lack the risk frameworks to protect it. They are moving fast on AI adoption, but many haven’t built the governance structures to control it. They want to transform and grow, but many haven’t created the talent strategies to deliver it.

Based on a survey of 109 US family businesses, this report combines survey data with firsthand perspectives from KPMG practitioners who work with these businesses every day on questions of growth, AI, talent, and succession. The insights from this report are intended to help family business leaders benchmark their own thinking against peers and identify where to focus first. Closing the gap between ambition and architecture is what will let today’s growth compound instead of stall.

Key findings

What’s on US family business leaders’ minds?

Building on a clear strategy

1

93% agree or strongly agree they have a clear growth strategy for the next five to ten years.

2

The top successfully leveraged value drivers are shared purpose and family reputation.

Growing innovation and governance

1

86% of family businesses are either piloting AI or have adopted it at scale.

2

However, just 40 percent have a formal AI governance framework in place.

Recruiting the right talent

1

Attracting high-quality external talent is the most cited talent challenge.

2

51% cite AI strategy and deployment as their biggest skills gap.

Professionalizing the model

1

8/10: Confidence in next-generation leadership readiness is high.

2

Family-run operating businesses remain the dominant model for now.

Source: KPMG analysis of US responses from the KPMG Global Family Business Survey 2026

Dive into our thinking:

KPMG 2026 US Family Business report

From ambition to architecture

Download PDF

Thank you!

Thank you for contacting KPMG. We will respond to you as soon as possible.

Contact KPMG

Use this form to submit general inquiries to KPMG. We will respond to you as soon as possible.
All fields with an asterisk (*) are required.

Job seekers

Visit our careers section or search our jobs database.

Submit RFP

Use the RFP submission form to detail the services KPMG can help assist you with.

Office locations

International hotline

You can confidentially report concerns to the KPMG International hotline

Press contacts

Do you need to speak with our Press Office? Here's how to get in touch.

Headline