How Small Businesses Are Adopting AI: Lessons from Early Adopters and What to Do Next
Generative AI is quickly becoming an essential element of the small business toolbox. In just two years, adoption among U.S. small businesses has jumped from less than one in four to a clear majority. So how are early adopters using it? Nearly two-thirds (63%) of SMBs...
Small Business Labor Shortage: The 5-Year Crisis That Refuses to End
The small business labor shortage has evolved from a pandemic disruption into a structural challenge that shows no signs of resolution. NFIB data from 2020 through 2025 reveals a persistent dual crisis affecting small business hiring nationwide. The Dual Nature of the...
Small Business Tariff Impact 2025: Early Warning Signs Every Owner Must Know
The small businesses that pay tariffs directly to US Customs saw their costs jump 170% since January 2025, serving as an early warning system for the broader economy. These direct importers are essentially economic canaries in the coal mine. They feel policy changes...
Small Business Pricing Strategy: What 5.5 Years of Data Reveals About Profitability
NFIB data from 2020 through July 2025 reveals a pattern that challenges expectations that pricing increases lead to improved profitability. The Pricing-Profit Disconnect During this period, the net percentage of businesses raising prices and their reported net profit...