Visa’s 2025 Creator Report Reveals Optimism and New Support Initiatives

At the recent Web Summit 2025, Visa revealed exciting developments aimed at empowering digital creators—a group increasingly recognized as vital small businesses. With their new 2025 Creator Report and plans for a collaboration with Karat Financial, Visa aims to provide modern tools and resources to help creators grow both locally and globally.

Small business owners should pay close attention, as Visa’s initiatives highlight a critical shift in the marketplace: creators are not merely influencers; they are entrepreneurs vying for a strong foothold in the economy.

Visa’s study, conducted in partnership with Morning Consult, surveyed over 1,000 TikTok creators from regions including the U.S., Brazil, Australia, the U.K., and the U.A.E. The findings reveal not just the challenges these creators face but also their growing resilience. According to Jonathan Kolozsvary, Global Head of Small Business for Visa Commercial Solutions, “Creators are among the most dynamic small business segments in the world.”

Key highlights from the report demonstrate a robust momentum among creators:

• Optimism: A striking 88% of the creators surveyed expect their revenue to increase within the next year, suggesting a strong confidence in their economic prospects.
• Funding Challenges: While creators often rely on personal funds, community support, and innovative financing models like crowdfunding, there remains a pressing need for tailored financial products designed specifically for their unique scenarios.
• Global Reach: More than half (52%) of the creators surveyed receive payments from outside their home countries. This underscores the need for modern payment solutions capable of handling cross-border transactions efficiently.
• Support Networks: A remarkable 94% of creators report encouragement from friends and family, enhancing the perception of content creation as a serious long-term career choice.

The report emphasizes that many creators are actively enhancing their business skills, particularly in areas like financial management and contract negotiation. Small business owners can relate to this journey, as both groups often navigate similar hurdles in building their enterprises.

Visa’s exploration of a new creator agentic pilot program with Karat Financial will focus on easing common administrative burdens faced by creators. Karat, a financial technology leader in the creator community, specializes in credit services and banking solutions tailored to these entrepreneurs.

The proposed pilot program promises to include several practical tools that could benefit small business owners:

• Smarter Payments: Automation that simplifies the processes of sending, receiving, and tracking payments, making it easier for small businesses to manage cash flows.
• Automated Reminders: Features that follow up on late invoices—essential for maintaining cash flow and ensuring timely payments, which are often a struggle for small businesses.
• Trusted Database: A centralized system where users can store and verify their buyer and supplier details, potentially reducing the risk of fraud.

However, while these developments are promising, small business owners should also remain cautious. Transitioning to new financial tools and systems might require training or adjustments in current business practices. Understanding how these tools integrate with existing operations is crucial to maximizing their benefits.

Visa reiterates its commitment to supporting the creator community, which has only solidified its acknowledgment of creators as valuable small businesses. The initiatives outlined not only aim to drive growth and innovation but also address the unique challenges that creators face in today’s digital landscape.

For those interested in diving deeper into the findings and implications of Visa’s 2025 Creator Report, the full report can be accessed here. In an evolving economy, the integration of creative entrepreneurship with traditional small business frameworks may redefine how these entities operate and grow, turning them into pivotal contributors to economic resilience and expansion.

Image via Google Gemini

This article, "Visa’s 2025 Creator Report Reveals Optimism and New Support Initiatives" was first published on Small Business Trends