Short, sourced, no-fluff coverage of the data, trends, and policy shifts that actually affect people starting or running a local business.
The Paychex Small Business Jobs Index rose for a fourth straight month in June 2026, marking the first four-month consecutive increase since November 2020.
New industry data shows Main Street growth has slowed below the national average for the first time in years — but recurring, appointment-based service businesses are still thriving.
SBA 7(a) loan rates now range from roughly 5.87% to 14.75% APR depending on loan size, tied to a prime rate of 6.75%. Here's what that means for a new business owner's monthly payment.
About 18% of U.S. businesses had adopted AI tools by the end of 2025, up from 4.6% in early 2024, as owners lean on AI for scheduling, customer service, and marketing.
Forget the '90% of businesses fail' myth — 2026 data puts first-year survival at roughly 77.9%, with about half of new businesses still operating after five years.
The Federal Reserve's Small Business Credit Survey now spans data back to 2016, offering the clearest long-run picture yet of financial health among America's small employer firms.
Main Street America's 2026 trend forecast highlights a shift from 'take-make-dispose' retail toward repair, refurbishment, and resale as a way to diversify revenue without major new investment.
More than 60% of small business owners say they feel more positive about their own business than at any point in the past five years, even as inflation and tariffs remain top concerns.
As ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI tools increasingly answer local buyer questions directly, being mentioned by name inside those answers is emerging as a new competitive front for local business owners.
Inflation is accelerating again in 2026, driven partly by energy prices and tariff-related cost pressure, forcing many small business owners into difficult pricing decisions.