How small businesses adapted to tighter commercial lending standards in 2025

How small businesses adapted to tighter commercial lending standards in 2025 The Federal Reserve's Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey from Q1 in 2025 suggests that it has become more challenging for small businesses in the United States to secure...

U.S. Chamber’s Small Business Index Sets Record: Both Conditions and Optimism Improve

A gauge of the small business sector is at a record high, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and MetLife reported Wednesday, releasing results of their Small Business Index for the third quarter. At 72.0, the Small Business Index is up from both the...

Persons with Disabilities benefit from loans to support small businesses

Six persons living with disabilities today received loans totaling $3 million. The cheques were handed over by Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues and Permanent Secretary, Roger Rogers at the Small Business Bureau. The...

Google Expands AI Plus to 40 Countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America

Google’s latest move in the artificial intelligence arena underscores its ambition to democratize advanced AI tools, particularly in emerging markets. On September 23, 2025, the tech giant announced the expansion of its Google AI Plus subscription...

Inside PayPal's global effort to uplift small businesses and their communities

Michelle Pusateri knows how important it is to give back to her community. As the founder and master granola maker for Nana Joes Granola, a women-owned business based in San Francisco, she hires directly from the surrounding neighborhood and has...

Flat-fee 401(k)s could help small businesses build competitive retirement packages

Key Insight: Learn how flat-fee 401(k) models can unlock retirement offerings for small employers. What's at Stake: Small employers risk talent loss and regulatory gaps by failing to modernize retirement benefits. Supporting Data: Only 38% of...

ECL Finance Opens New Branch in Chengalpattu for Small Business Loans

ECL Finance Limited (ECLF), an NBFC promoted by Edelweiss Financial Services, has opened its first Small Business LAP branch in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu. The branch will cater to the credit needs of small businesses by offering a Loan Against...

African Bank Raises R700 Million via Inaugural Social Bonds

African Bank has successfully issued its first social bonds, raising R700 million through 3- and 5-year securities aimed at funding small and medium enterprises. Demand exceeded supply, with bid volumes surpassing R1 billion. This marks a key step...

Global economies including Canada are stable, but tariffs weighing: OECD

A new report finds that despite the negative impacts of tariff policies worldwide so far, including in Canada, global economies are still expected to grow — unless tariffs escalate for the worse. The latest economic outlook by the Organization for...

Why Quality Standards Matter for Mississippi’s Growing Small Businesses

source: QCADVISOR Across Mississippi, small businesses are multiplying — from family-owned restaurants in Jackson to light manufacturing shops in Gulfport. Growth is encouraging, but it also means more competition. In this environment, standing...

Watch out - even small businesses are now facing threats from deepfake attacks

Three in five businesses have experienced deepfake attacks recently, Gartner finds Audio and video deepfakes are becoming more accessible to attackers Prompt injection is also giving criminals access to sensitive company information Gartner says...

How This Entrepreneur Is Driving Ghana’s Global Expansion Through Its People

RNAQ Food Bank is open daily, providing lunch to Ghanaians across five locations. Since their opening on Aug. 1, the food banks have served over 17,000 people. (Accra, Ghana) RNAQ Foundaton From the endless rows of vendors at the splendidly...

Carbondale Report: Rates increasing and public infrastructure improving

All Carbondale trustees were present for their final meeting of September, addressing several items indicative of an evolving town. First, a consent agenda was approved that included approval of minutes, special event permits for the Carbondale...

9Spokes powers Smartpay with SMB financial and customer insights platform

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 — 18:23:39 (UTC) AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Sept. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 9Spokes, a global data platform, has integrated its SMB Financial Hub and Insights platform, featuring the Merchant Board, with Smartpay (NZX:...

Hawkers’ body slams SMB over alleged irregularities in vending certificates

SHILLONG, SEP 24: The Meghalaya Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) has strongly criticized the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) for its alleged ‘deliberate inefficiency’ in issuing certificates of vending...

‘Companies will go bust’: metal industry warns Reeves as energy fees double

From October 1, standing charges and levies on industrial electricity bills will begin to rise sharply, with the full increase landing in April. Energy brokers said non-commodity costs – the fees for using the grid and funding subsidies – will...

New data reveals critical hiring challenges for small businesses 

Small businesses are grappling with significant hurdles when it comes to hiring, new data has revealed. Insights from Talent Hub – a new resource to support micro and small businesses with no HR department, found while half of small businesses...

K-DATA and SEMAS Partner to Enhance Data and AI Adoption for Small Businesses

Pursuing Practical Collaboration to Promote Data Utilization Cases and Mutual Portal Expansion The Korea Data Industry Promotion Agency (K-DATA) and the Small Enterprise and Market Service (SEMAS) have signed a memorandum of understanding on the...

How small businesses can build workplaces that retain women

Workplaces across Australia are still falling short when it comes to supporting women. In the last week alone, two studies found persistent discrimination and barriers to career progression in the construction and technology sectors. Both the Tech...

Goldman Sachs to host largest small business owners summit

Goldman Sachs global head of corporate engagement Asahi Pompey unpacks AI ambitions across America on 'The Claman Countdown.' Wall Street financial titan Goldman Sachs will host the largest gathering of small business owners in Washington, D.C....