The SBA Raised the Ceiling. Is Your Business Ready to Walk Through the Door?

by Admin | Jun 11, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, Economic Insight, SMB Leadership

The Rule Change The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced that, effective July 4, 2026, eligible borrowers can combine 7(a) and 504 loans to access up to $10 million in SBA-backed financing. That doubles the prior $5 million cumulative cap and,...

Why Small Businesses Have Stopped Investing

by Admin | Jun 4, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, Business Strategy, Economic Insight

Capital investment is one of the clearest signals of business confidence. When owners are willing to spend on equipment, vehicles, facilities, and technology, it means they believe the future justifies the outlay. When they stop, it means something else entirely....

Immigrant-Owned Businesses: Getting Approved Isn’t the Problem. Getting Fully Funded Is.

by Admin | May 28, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, SMB Leadership, Strategy Planning

Access to capital is often framed as approval versus denial. The data suggests something more nuanced. According to the Federal Reserve’s 2026 Small Business Credit Survey: Chartbook on Immigrant-Owned Firms, 44% of immigrant-owned businesses were fully approved for...

Why Many Small Businesses Are Pulling Back Despite Profitability

by Admin | May 14, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, Business Strategy, Economic Insight

The April Bank of America Institute Small Business Checkpoint frames a contradiction worth a closer look. Profitability growth held positive through the first quarter, but small business payroll growth has been negative for three consecutive months, and overall...

The Q1 2026 Small Business Index Has a Message for National Small Business Week

by Admin | May 7, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, SMB Leadership, Strategy Planning

Each year since 1963, National Small Business Week, typically celebrated during the first week in May, has served as the nation’s official recognition of the contributions small businesses make to the economy. America’s 36 million small businesses make up...

Small Business Credit Quality Is Declining. Here Is What That Means for Your Business.

by Admin | Apr 30, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, SMB Leadership, Strategy Planning

For nearly four years, lenders across the country have reported a net decline in the credit quality of small business loan applicants. Fifteen consecutive quarters of declining applicant credit quality, running from the second quarter of 2022 through the fourth...