Small businesses in the United States are pessimistic about their prospects, but less pessimistic than two years ago. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism Index rose 2.2 points last month to 93.7, the highest reading since February 2022, according to a...
In his testimony last month before the House Small Business Committee, COE Distributing Chairman and CEO J.D. Ewing highlighted the issue of soaring shipping costs impacting small businesses. Ewing, who has led COE — a family-owned office furnishings wholesaler based in Fayette County, Pennsylvania —...
Although all eyes this earnings season might be focused on consumer spending, there are several puts and takes on business demand for working capital, particularly from what might be termed non-traditional providers such as Block and PayPal. And, generally speaking, demand is robust. The demand...
Small businesses represent 99.9% of American firms, yet effectively financing them remains an ongoing challenge. Small businesses are inherently risky — and many end up being short-lived operations. And while the demand for innovative lending solutions tailored for small and-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) continues to grow,...
Small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) are contending with a perfect storm of financial difficulties: outdated payment systems, persistent inflation and delayed payments. These issues disrupt cash flow and hinder growth, exacerbated by inefficient manual accounting practices and reliance on paper payments. As inflation pressures margins...
Cuba has reportedly banned its small businesses from using U.S. bank accounts, just weeks after the Biden administration allowed Cubans to use the banking system. Havana’s decision comes at a time when the country is having its worst economic crisis since the collapse of the...
Sage and Stripe have partnered to help improve cashflow management and payment processing for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Stripe’s financial infrastructure platform for businesses will be integrated into Sage’s solutions for SMBs, providing Sage customers with more ways to pay and get paid, the companies said...
Embedded lending promises users convenient, streamlined access to financing for specific expenses from within merchant, business and other platforms. PYMNTS Intelligence finds that embedded lending isn’t fully living up to the promise yet. Nonetheless, many individuals, microbusinesses and small businesses (MSBs) use it. In fact,...
When it comes to the business landscape, more money commonly equals, or creates, more opportunities. And with the news that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has started soliciting insights on a new pilot program within the 7(a) Loan Program designed to support small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), putting...
