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

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

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...

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

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

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, Business Planning, SMB Leadership

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...

Small Business Loan Denial: What Lenders See Before You Get the Answer

by Admin | Apr 23, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, Business Planning, SMB Leadership

Most small business loan denials are not decisions made at the end of the process. By the time a lender delivers their answer, your financials have already told them what they need to know. Understanding what they are looking for is the first step toward changing the...

Small Businesses Are Using AI, But Not to Replace Workers

by Admin | Apr 9, 2026 | AI Adoption, Business Planning, SMB Leadership

Artificial intelligence is often discussed as a technology that will replace jobs. But the reality inside many small businesses looks different. Recently published Federal Reserve data shows that 46% of small businesses report currently using AI tools, while another...

Why Many Small Businesses Don’t Receive the Full Funding They Request

by Admin | Apr 2, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, Business Planning

When small businesses apply for financing, many expect the outcome to be simple: approved or denied. In reality, the result often lands somewhere in between. Recently published Federal Reserve data shows that just about half of small businesses receive the full amount...