If you’re part of Gen Z — which makes up approximately 25 percent of the global population (per Statista) — you’ve probably considered trading your traditional 9-to-5 job to go out on your own. That’s what the team at Adobe Acrobat discovered when they studied younger workers who’ve started their own businesses in lieu of going into an office every day and answering to an employer.
They found that almost 50 percent of Gen Z entrepreneurs were more likely to go into business for themselves so they could travel more. This conclusion came after surveying 1,018 individuals, including 386 solopreneurs and 632 small business owners, to learn how they managed a work-life balance, which has been a considerable priority for those just starting out in their careers.
Young Workers Vying for Control
A February 2024 Forbes article highlighted this, noting that “remote work and flexible schedules” have been a top concern for Gen Z employees, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic normalizing these models, and several reports, like this one from Bovard College, show travel demands are on the rise.
While their focus has been on sustaining a balance between wellness and career responsibilities, many have opted to take matters into their own hands and become their own bosses. Adobe Acrobat revealed that nearly three in five entrepreneurs reported an improvement in managing their personal and work lives since now running the show.
Similar results were shared in a 2023 study from Samsung and Morning Consult, which reported that 50 percent of Gen Zers aspired to ditch their corporate jobs and launch their own business, so not much of their mindset has changed (via CNBC).
Unplugging Is Unlikely
However, having the fate of their business solely in their hands has come with drawbacks, as nearly half of those surveyed in the Adobe Acrobat study admitted to having a hard time disconnecting entirely (only unplugging 11 days annually, not including holidays). Side note: This has been an ongoing challenge even for employees, and new “right to disconnect” laws have been pushed all over the world (via WSOCTV) to combat fears of burnout.
Still, having the freedom to make their own schedule is a significant appeal for Gen Zers joining the workforce, as Adobe Acrobat points out that it could eliminate the need to take off as often as workers would’ve in previous positions.
Swapping for the Night Shift
Scheduling doctor’s appointments, yoga classes, and coffee dates with friends is much easier when you’re not devoted to your desk at certain hours, and considering Gen Zers are less inclined to work longer hours (only 1 in 10 works over 50 hours per week, according to Adobe Acrobat’s findings), the breaks away are much needed to refresh and boost productivity.
Flexible schedules for entrepreneurs also mean that they can clock in hours late at night, like the average solopreneur who works after 10 p.m. nine times a month and the small business owners who tend to work later shifts (via Adobe Acrobat). But being able to dedicate the daytime hours to family and doing joyful activities (ahem, like traveling to that country you’ve always wanted to visit) could make the nighttime hours seem not so bad.
Dreaming of Getaways
Owning a business offers flexibility similar to freelance, remote work, and bleisure travel (another growing trend), as the eagerness to travel more heightens. Per the study, solopreneurs were 33 percent more likely than small business owners to have started their own businesses specifically to increase travel opportunities, but the desire is on both ends.
In the American Express 2025 Global Travel Trends Report, President Audrey Hendley said that Millennial and Gen Z travelers are determined to book “thoughtful, meaningful trips” this year, distancing themselves from their work.
Leading the Charge
We might want to take the latter’s lead, as Gen Z is becoming one of the most entrepreneurial generations, leading the charge in many successful companies (Alexandr Wang, Kylie Jenner, and Ben Pasternak, to name a few).
They also appear to be the most motivated, as a recent study from Square found that 84 percent of U.S-based Gen Zers vowed to own their own company one day (via Forbes). Their research also revealed that 80 percent of Gen Z American business owners launched their company online or had a mobile component, while only 46 percent had a physical location.
You’re the Boss
So, is being free to travel more the sole driving force for Gen Zers to form their own business? Not exactly. While it is a massive benefit, it’s only one of the reasons young workers are eyeing ownership roles (although Gen Zers reported higher levels of disruption to their travel plans over the last year, 45 percent, than Millennials or Gen Xers, according to a March 2025 report by American Express Global Business Travel, which could’ve further stirred frustrations).
Aside from the flexibility, Gen Zers are drawn to the independence of running their own business and creating an impact in their respective industries. However, we’d bet many would say that the ability to travel more is high on their list of perks.
<p>The post From Their Cubicles to the Airport: Gen Z Entrepreneurs Are Starting Businesses for More Travel Opportunities first appeared on Travelbinger.</p>