Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) announced the launch of Autodesk for Small Business, a global initiative aimed at supporting small teams and entrepreneurs in design and manufacturing industries. The company released the program alongside a research report showing small businesses in these sectors are growing nearly 35% faster than the broader small business economy.

The initiative centers on a new online Small Business Hub on Autodesk.com, currently available in the United States and United Kingdom, with additional countries planned for later this year. The hub provides a dedicated platform for small businesses to explore products and compare options without navigating enterprise-focused interfaces.

A key component involves changes to Autodesk's Flex token system. Later this year, customers will no longer need to purchase a minimum of 100 Flex tokens at once, allowing smaller teams to buy fewer tokens and pay only for what they use. Autodesk Flex provides token-based access to more than 100 Autodesk products without subscription requirements or long-term commitments.

The company commissioned research with GlobalData examining small businesses across design and manufacturing industries in the United States. The study found that 18% of professionals in these sectors are considering starting their own businesses in 2026, compared to 12% in the broader small business economy. Additionally, 80% of small business owners in design and manufacturing report struggling to balance business operations with actual work.

The research also indicated that 36% of the design and manufacturing workforce operates as freelancers or contractors, exceeding the broader workforce rate of 32%. Small businesses and micro firms in these industries grew nearly 10% in 2025.

"We've heard directly from our customers that they need more flexibility, more clarity, and technology that reflects how they actually work," said Dara Treseder, Chief Marketing Officer.

During May, Autodesk plans to offer special pricing for small businesses and provide free Professional Certification exam vouchers with AutoCAD purchases.