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,...

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...

The Tariff Refund Window Is Open. Here Is What Small Business Importers Need to Do.

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...

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...

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

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

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...