Stacker-Small Business

  Small businesses founded in the past year are more likely to have insurance than those that have been operating longer, according to a new survey of small business owners by ERGO NEXT. Today’s entrepreneurs are thinking about protection earlier, but buying insurance and being adequately protected aren’t always the same thing. The survey also

  For most of the year, ChatGPT Ads have only really made sense for massive companies with large budgets. They could run the ads and learn the ins and outs of the platform, but there was almost no way to know if any of it actually led to conversions. The ads may have gotten a

  The U.S. small-business landscape is locked in a striking paradox: Despite severe headwinds from rising inflation and dampened market optimism, entrepreneurship remains remarkably durable as new business applications continue to surge. This ongoing wave of formation, coupled with the fact that nearly 40% of microbusiness owners maintain a highly positive outlook, underscores an economic

  Delayed invoice payments are choking small business cash flow in 2026, according to research from Xero Small Business Insights. According to a 2025 survey, late payments cost businesses nearly $40,000 per year on average, and about 10% of businesses report losses of up to $100,000. Another 2025 survey indicates more than 9 out of

  Digital marketing looks very different from the polished advertising that filled social feeds only a few years ago. People now pass those ads within seconds, while recommendations and videos showing how a product works in everyday use are far more likely to hold their attention. Goldman Sachs placed the creator economy at $250 billion,

  As a startup founder, you probably never intended to create a messy finance stack. But you might find yourself drowning in tool sprawl after even just a few months of operation. Maybe you started with a business bank account. Then, new finance needs made you realize that you also need corporate cards and expense

  The accounts receivable (AR) process is the step-by-step workflow you use to invoice customers, track payments, and collect the money owed for goods or services sold on credit. When your AR process runs well, cash comes in on schedule and your business can cover payroll, pay suppliers, and reinvest in growth without scrambling for

  It’s easier than ever to start a business: Often all you need is a laptop and a business plan. But today’s business environment tests owners’ resilience in new ways. The familiar challenges of securing financing, managing expenses and building a loyal customer base now exist alongside emerging cyber and legal risks. With sustained economic

  The car care industry is reaping the benefits of long-term planning focused on automation, efficient capital usage, and migrating its business to subscription models. Americans are keeping their cars longer. According to Mobility Global, the average age of a passenger car in the U.S. is 14.5 years old. This should come as no surprise,

  Imagine walking into an independent grocery store at 7 a.m. Employees are stocking shelves, receiving deliveries, rotating produce, checking dates, and making final preparations for the morning’s customers. Doing all of this while juggling an early rush can make those morning hours a particularly hectic time for store operators. While other types of retail

  Getting your first customers is one of the hardest parts of building a business. Since your business is new and you’re still figuring things out, there’s no momentum yet — no word of mouth, no testimonials. So where do you even start? In this guide, Mercury, a fintech platform that offers business and personal

  AI agents have moved beyond simply researching products for your business to buying them for you. Whether it’s cloud storage, renewing a SaaS license, paying a vendor, or ordering coffee for the office, autonomous software increasingly needs a way to pay. Virtual cards for AI agents make that possible. These programmable payment credentials give

  Summer weather can mean more time outdoors, more events, hot weather and holidays. And for many small business owners, it can also mean more customers ready to spend. If you’re a contractor, food truck owner, event vendor or mobile service provider, May through September might be your busiest season. And also a time of

  Small business owners may be experts in their field, but they’re not always experts on bookkeeping. A new survey from Bluevine of 864 small and medium-sized business owners reveals that many have gaps in their business financial knowledge, making it more difficult for them to be approved for loans. More than 1 in 3

  The World Economic Forum predicts that 59% of the global workforce will need to upskill by 2030 due to the accelerating technological advancements. Sales training programs give your company a competitive advantage, attracting top talent while improving your current team’s skill set. However, you need an effective training program to see results. To find

  In-house PPC versus agency PPC is a decision about expertise, cost structure, and how fast you can scale. An in-house PPC team gives you direct control and deep brand knowledge, while a PPC agency delivers specialized expertise, advanced tools, and cross-account experience. For many businesses managing $10,000 or more in monthly ad spend or

  Founders, CEOs, and early finance leads looking for startup funding usually aren’t comparing a long list of equally realistic loan options. They’re trying to preserve runway, choose financing that fits their stage, and avoid wasting time on applications built for businesses with years of revenue and assets to pledge. Understanding your startup costs and

  Summer 2026 has already been one for the books. During the week of June 29, wholesale power through PJM Interconnection went from under $40 a megawatt-hour to spike past $1,600 as air conditioners roared to life, topping $2,500 in some areas. Through July 4, U.S. utilities pushed out more than 100,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity

  Small business credit access varies wildly by state, leaving entrepreneurs in some regions facing significantly higher rejection rates and limited financing options compared to others. Nationally, small businesses using credit report operational benefits. But state-by-state data tells a different story, reports Plains State Bank, a personal and business banking service provider based in Texas.

  For many entrepreneurs, owning a business isn’t the end goal: It’s the path to something bigger. It’s the start of what many call the American Dream. And for many business owners, that dream means having more control over their future. A recent Rocket Lawyer-commissioned survey of small business owners reflects this shift. More than