by Admin | Jul 2, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, Business Strategy, SMB Leadership, Strategy Planning
The current economy, also described as “K-shaped” or “bifurcated”, depending on which numbers or reports you read, appears to be doing well. Small business owners know better. This is the two-track economy, and the data suggests it is widening. Select macroeconomic...
by Admin | Jun 25, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, Business Strategy, SMB Leadership
Last week, we explored why readiness, not cost, is the real barrier to AI adoption for small businesses. The JPMorgan Chase Institute’s April 2026 research confirms it: the businesses moving beyond experimentation are not the ones with the biggest budgets. They...
by Admin | Jun 18, 2026 | Business Strategy, SMB Leadership, Strategy Planning
Artificial intelligence is no longer a concept on the horizon. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AI adoption among small businesses has more than doubled since 2023, and more than half of small business leaders now describe AI tools as critical to their...
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....
by Admin | May 21, 2026 | Business Strategy, Economic Insight, SMB Leadership
On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a category of tariffs called IEEPA tariffs. More than 300,000 U.S. companies that paid these tariffs are owed refunds, totaling roughly $166 billion. U.S. Customs opened the refund process on April 20, and...
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...