We used to be a nation of owners. Not anymore.
In 1820, roughly 80 percent of Americans worked for themselves. Farmers, shopkeepers, and craftsmen—people owned what they built.
Today, most of us work for someone else. We may think that's normal, but it's not.
Ownership is disappearing. Slowly, quietly, it's being taken while we aren't paying attention. And as it goes, so does our freedom, wealth, and control over our communities.
If you walk down any street in America, you'll see this in real time. That corner store? Likely owned by a big corporation. The neighborhood coffee shop? Replaced by a chain. The family auto repair shop? Bought out or shut down.
In 2000, private equity firms owned just 4 percent of U.S. companies. Today, they own 20 percent. One in five businesses are run by Wall Street suits who've never worked a day on Main Street.
Even local businesses aren't local anymore. One-third are controlled by giant corporations.
BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street—the "Big Three" of Wall Street asset management—now are the largest shareholders for 88 percent of the S&P 500. These companies own the buildings you live in, the companies you work for, even the stocks in your 401(k).
They're not just buying businesses. They're buying power and control.
When local businesses close, they take more than jobs with them—they take the heart of a community. We've all seen it happen. A beloved local diner or shop, where families gathered for years, gets bought by a chain. Prices go up, familiar faces disappear, and that warm, personal touch is replaced with something cold and corporate. What once felt like home is now just another corporate front.
This is happening everywhere. When it does, we don't just lose businesses; we lose connection, pride, and control over our towns. Prices rise. Service gets worse. Jobs go away. Money leaves your town and flows to Wall Street.
The tax code doesn't help. It rewards ownership, not work. Owners get breaks on cars, meals, and even health insurance. Workers, meanwhile, are taxed higher than billionaires. If you're not an owner, you're falling behind.
This didn't happen overnight. After World War II, America started to change. Big companies grew bigger. Chain stores like Walmart and McDonald's replaced local shops. Wall Street created new ways to buy Main Street. By the 1970s, only 1 in 3 Americans worked for themselves. Today, it's less than 10 percent.
Take my uncle Ed's plumbing business. For 30 years, he served his community and made a good living. But when he retired, no one could afford to buy it. His kids had corporate jobs. Local plumbers couldn't get loans. So the business closed. This same thing happens to thousands of businesses every month. They don't fail—they're bought out or simply vanish.
Other countries are doing better at this. We're losing at the game of capitalism to many of our own allies.
Most small businesses now make less than $50,000 a year. They can't compete with the giants. They're barely surviving.
This turning point isn't happening in isolation—it's being driven by three major forces that are changing the way we live, work, and own:
First is the Great Retirement: Every day, 10,000 Baby Boomers retire. About 800 of them own businesses. Most don't have anyone to take over. Their kids have corporate jobs. Local buyers can't get bank loans. So what happens? Some sell to Wall Street, but most of them simply shut down. By 2030, the nearly 2.3 million small businesses owned by Baby Boomers will close or change hands. That's $10 trillion worth of value. And 25 million jobs are at risk.
Second is the Great Resignation: Workers want flexibility but haven't realized owning a business could provide it.
Finally, the Great Corporatization: Companies like Amazon now control one-third of local businesses, turning communities into corporate clones.
If these trends continue, the American Dream will become a distant memory. But it doesn't have to be this way. Wealth can be built in a number of different ways in this country—and it doesn't always have to be a startup. Buying a "boring business"—think laundromats, HVAC companies, or car washes—is an alternative path to wealth through ownership, and you don't need millions to do it. These are recession-proof, cash-flowing businesses and many sellers will finance the sale, letting you pay over time. These businesses are already running—unlike a startup. Simple updates like online booking or social media can double revenue for an already successful business.
Take Brittany. During the coronavirus pandemic, she bought two struggling gyms for pennies on the dollar. She kept the existing members, added online classes, and cut unnecessary costs. In just one year, both gyms were thriving and generating steady profits.
Then there's Chris. He started with a single plumbing business. After modernizing its operations, he reinvested the profits to buy a locksmith service. From there, he expanded into a construction company. Now, he runs a small empire of essential businesses, all built on the same formula: buy, improve, and grow.
These aren't one-offs. They're proof of what's possible when you take ownership into your own hands.
Anyone can start. Look for a business that fits your skills and lifestyle. If you love talking to people, try a service business. If you like working quietly, go for something like a laundromat or storage facility. Check websites like BizBuySell and BizScout, or ask local business owners who may be retiring soon.
Do your homework: Look at the business's numbers. Check if it makes steady money. Make sure it has loyal customers. Avoid businesses that depend too much on the owner or one big client.
Make a smart deal: You don't need to pay all cash. Many owners will let you pay over time using the business's profits. You can also use loans like SBA financing.
Add value, starting with small fixes. Use technology to save time. Add new services or subscriptions to make more money. Focus on what customers love.
Finally, build your freedom: Hire a great operator. Teach them to handle the day-to-day work. This gives you time to focus on growing the business—or enjoying the life you've built.
The American Dream was never about working 40 years for someone else. It was about owning something real.
Local businesses don't just create jobs. They keep money in the community. They provide better service. They build real wealth—not just for the owner, but for everyone.
Every day, more local businesses close. More communities lose their character. More money flows to Wall Street.
We're at a crossroads. Will we let corporations own everything? Or will we take back control? It's really up to us.
Codie Sanchez is the founder of Contrarian Thinking and the author of "Main Street Millionaire." She owns dozens of small businesses and helps everyday Americans achieve financial freedom through ownership.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
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