#small-business

#small-business

For small business owners, inflation is a big concern. Many are more worried than ever about their income, according to a recent report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The economy has made things harder for many, but small businesses still play a key role in our towns, cities, and neighborhoods. Local services like dry cleaners, bakeries, coffee shops, and tailors might not seem exciting, but they're essential. These are the businesses you and your neighbors count on every day.

For small business owners, inflation is a big concern. Many are more worried than ever about their income, according to a recent report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The economy has made things harder for many, but small businesses still play a key role in our towns, cities, and neighborhoods. Local services like dry cleaners, bakeries, coffee shops, and tailors might not seem exciting, but they're essential. These are the businesses you and your neighbors count on every day.

This summer, POKS Spices announced a somber business update on Instagram: After nine years of building a dedicated following on its own website, the West African seasoning company had decided to shift all product sales to Amazon. The choice is one many small entrepreneurs must make to survive-either stake their entire future on the e-commerce giant or shut down entirely.

Michele DeSmet and Courtney Tomioka, the couple behind bakery Made out of Dough, decided that instead of launching just a storefront next to their bakery to sell their products, they'd create a marketplace for other small businesses and vendors to sell their products, too. "It's literally an industrial warehouse that we turned into this little co-op," DeSmet says. "It's almost like a mini farmers market."

The 20 new liquor licenses Mayor Lurie is dropping on Union Square are getting predictable blowback from downtown bar owners, who are still struggling from the pandemic and not particularly keen on having 20 new competitors.

Rolling beige hills peppered with dark oak trees paint the horizon as a lone, wispy white cloud drifts leisurely to nowhere. There are more cows and horses than cars on this winding, backcountry Sonoma County road. As it bends around a corner, a white steeple from a former one-room schoolhouse spears the seemingly endless blue sky. Just ahead is an oasis where world-class pastries are sold from a wagon.

Isabel M. (@isaraveandrips) watched her mother sit at her taco shop, waiting for customers all day long. She was obviously sad, and all she wished for Christmas was for some customers to relish her mother's food. To grow her family business, Isabel posted a TikTok video of her mother sitting at the empty taco shop in December. Much to her surprise, the post blew up overnight, and their shop was packed with customers the following day.

In her speech at the conference, the home secretary said that if someone wanted to stay in the UK permanently, they would have to contribute. She said: "I will be proposing a series of new tests, such as being in work, making National Insurance contributions, not taking a penny in benefits, learning English to a high standard, having no criminal record and that you have truly given back to your community, such as by volunteering your time to a local cause."

The partnership will dedicate $5 million to help small businesses embrace AI and incorporate it into everyday business operations. Google's Grow with Google initiative announced the program on Oct. 9. Small Business B(AI)sics will offer workshops and online courses designed to teach owners how to use AI tools to streamline tasks. All aspects of operations, including marketing, budgeting, and inventory planning, can be simplified.

"Whether you are a felon, whether you are misplaced, whether you are 80 years old, whether you are 14 years old," DeMint told CBS News (1), "everyone needs a place to call home as far as a job goes."

HUMBLE, Texas -- You won't find the designs at DC Apparel anywhere else. They are all created by the owner, Donecia Abate. At DC Apparel, her distinctive designs celebrate the pride of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Abate herself is a graduate of both Tuskegee and Prairie View A&M University. In the video above, she shares her passion for HBCUs and the inspirations behind her designs. DC Apparel is located at 14929 Old Humble Rd in Humble, Texas.

Proponents say it's an initiative with a proven track record of success, and that allowing funding to lapse permanently or enact reforms too aggressively will do irreparable damage to the small defense business ecosystem. But critics say it is not fulfilling its mandate, and that changes are needed to bring in new entrants and ensure repeat awardees eventually "graduate" from the program.

hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty

For small businesses, the holiday season is both a blessing and a balancing act. From November through December, many companies earn up to 30% of their annual revenue but also experience the most intense stress on inventory, logistics, staffing, and marketing systems. The pressure to meet demand while keeping margins healthy is challenging. According to Adobe, consumer spending is forecasted to reach $253.4 billion for the 2025 holiday season.

The incentive offers a financial boost that is designed to offset the cost of a membership with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The offer comes at a time when small business owners across the UK are facing increasing uncertainty over HR compliance - an area where FSB membership offers vital support - as the Employment Rights Bill travels through parliament.

said there is an enormous gap in the market for "AI integrators" - people who can adapt AI tools for practical use inside corporations. "There are 33 million companies in this country," Cuban noted, "and only a select few have dedicated AI budgets or keep AI experts on payroll. But these companies will still need to adapt for the AI era.

Back then, I was a marketing representative for an asset management firm in Penang, Malaysia. It was a steady job, and I had supportive managers who allowed me to take ownership of my work. It was a client-facing role, and over time, I realized it wasn't the best fit for my personality, even though I learned and grew a lot from the job. After the pandemic, I started feeling burned out. Deep down, I always knew a 9-to-5 wasn't meant to be my long-term path.

Unfortunately, this is the third time we've been broken into within a year," Nick DeRose said.

During the months after the Aug. 8, 2023 fire, support poured in from neighbors. A GoFundMe raised over $63,000 to rebuild the store. Progress Hardware also received a $10,000 grant for fire disaster relief from San Francisco's Office of Small Businesses, and $9,750 from District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar's office. Locals watched in anticipation as construction workers fixed up the storefront at 724 Irving St. In the past few months, the plywood was removed. The store looks ready.

Wave positions itself as the go-to solution for freelancers and bootstrapped businesses. Its core accounting features come at no cost, making it incredibly attractive for startups watching every penny. However, you'll pay transaction fees when processing payments through its system. And if you want advanced features and lower transaction fees, prepare to upgrade to Wave Pro for $19 per month.

Sunset After Dark is a new community market in San Francisco's Sunset District. It's a celebration of local food, culture, and small businesses. The inaugural event will turn three blocks of Irving Street into a lively, family-friendly street festival with food vendors, performances, music, a rib eating contest, raffle prizes, and one night only food collaborations from local businesses. Sunset After Dark is being organized by Dear Community and Smokin' D's with the support of local merchants, parent teacher associations, and individuals from the community.

If you own a small business, you'll probably relate to Tracy Klopfenstein. "The first two years were the worst," says Klopfenstein, who bought a homemade ice cream shop in Goshen, Indiana, called The Chief with her husband, Chad. "We worked all the time, and I suffered burnout. My mind would spiral at night, and I'd worry about everything. I had what I would call an absence of hope."

I spent 10 years working for Chase Bank, building a career in corporate banking. It was steady, professional, and came with a clear path forward. But when a prime lot went up for sale in my small hometown of Damascus, Oregon, I saw an opportunity that banking couldn't give me. The property sat right along a major highway that had no drive-thru coffee stands nearby.

The LTK brand platform provides businesses with tools they can use to discover content creators, gift them products, manage and scale campaigns, and analyze their performance. In the past, LTK offered these features only to high-paying enterprise brand clients. While there will be plenty of paid premium features, according to Kristi O'Brien, the company's chief revenue officer, brands will soon be able to use the basic version at no cost.

cliff edges

Nearly 40% of Americans have a side hustle right now - and for many, it's not just a way to earn a little extra cash. According to a recent LendingTree survey, 61% of people with a side hustle say they couldn't afford to live without it. While the number of side hustlers has decreased slightly since the pandemic's peak, many still feel the everyday financial pressure.