Updated
October 02, 2026
Published
February 27, 2023
This Week's Highlights
- Main Street Headwinds: High prices are shrinking margins and preventing reinvestment growth on Main Street.
- 2026 Outlook: Continued high confidence levels of cash flow and business health is further evidence of Main Street’s resilience.
- Summary: Small employers remain resilient in the face of high prices and are prioritizing existing employees and digital tools to boost capacity.
Small businesses remain resilient and optimistic in the face of high prices. Small employers are looking to achieve profitability through efficiency.
Tariff Refund FAQ Guide: Visit this guide for information to help small businesses identify whether they paid IEEPA‑based tariffs and prepare for the emerging refund process.
Navigating the New Tax Law: Don't miss our practical guide to maximizing savings for small businesses under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
ICYMI: As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark unveiled a bold vision for how the business community can help shape the nation’s next chapter. Watch here.
Is your small business a member of the U.S. Chamber? As the nation's leading small business advocacy organization, we can help you with exclusive intelligence and access, a Policy Help Desk, regular updates on economic and business trends, and more.
New Small Business Data
Justworks and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index for Q3 (September 30, 2026)
Insight Summary: Small business owners remain resilient, with elevated confidence in their businesses’ health and cash flow. More small employers are offering benefits to keep their best employees.
- 70% of small businesses are confident in the health of their own business (1 point higher than last quarter) and 72% are comfortable with their current cash flow (2 points higher than last quarter).
- 33% of small business owners are positive about the health of their local economy (no change from last quarter). 36% say their local economy is “about average” (8 points higher than last quarter) and 30% are negative (6 points better than last quarter).
- 27% of small business owners are positive about the nation’s economic health (3 points lower than last quarter). 22% say the national economy is “about average” (5 points higher than last quarter) and 51% are negative (1 point better than last quarter).
- 54% of small business owners rank inflation as their top concern (3 points lower than last quarter and the 19th consecutive quarter where inflation tops the list).
- 38% of small business owners expect to increase investment in their business in the upcoming year (no change from last quarter).
- 62% of small business owners expect to increase revenue in the next year (4 points lower than last quarter).
- 17% of small business owners reported adding staff over this past year (2 points lower than last quarter) and 36% expect to increase staff over the next 12-months (1 point higher than last quarter).
- 46% of small businesses offer health insurance (5 points higher than Q2 2025). 40% offer paid vacation (10 points higher). 31% of small businesses offer dental/vision insurance (10 points higher) and 27% offer retirement plans (5 points higher).
Chase for Business September Small Business Pulse (September 29, 2026)
Insight Summary: Data from August show Main Street’s desire to grow capacity without additional hiring.
- Hiring at small businesses remained at 18% growth year over year (same as June & July).
- Profitability for small businesses dipped in August, but revenues continued to exceed expenses, indicating continued resilience.
- Small businesses report using artificial intelligence (AI) to augment existing capabilities, expanding capacity without hiring additional staff.
Bank of America Institute Small Business Checkpoint (September 24, 2026)
Insight Summary: Smaller firms outpaced their larger counterparts in profitability growth and hiring in August.
- Small businesses with under $5 million in annual revenue experienced higher profitability growth in August than small businesses with revenue between $5 million and $50 million.
- Small businesses with under $5 million in annual revenue accelerated hiring more in August than small businesses with revenue between $5 million and $50 million.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) spending is about level (20%) for firms with under $5 million in revenue and firms between $5 million and $50 million.
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Delinquency rates for business loans remains below the 20-year historical average and declined in Q2 of this year.
Mastercard Dreamononics Report (September 15, 2026)
Insight Summary: Use of digital tools to bolster growth is becoming a global method for small businesses.
- 67% of American small businesses prioritize stability and predictability over fast growth compared to 59% of SMEs in the Middle East and Africa, 69% in Europe and Asia Pacific countries, and 74% in Latin America.
- 62% of American small businesses would rather build deep customer relationships than reach more new customers compared to 61% of SMEs in Australia, 63% in Canada, and 69% in the UK and Brazil.
- SMEs are already using an average of 5 digital tools and 89% want to adopt more.
- 37% of SMEs use cybersecurity protection tools and 71% want to prioritize protection from cyber threats.
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) August Optimism Index (September 8, 2026)
Insight Summary: Sales slow on Main Street and plans for growth continue to be stalled.
- 23% of small business owners cite “labor quality or availability” as their single most important problem (4 points lower than July) and 16% cite inflation as their biggest problem (2 points higher than July).
- 10% of small business owners expect better business conditions in the next 3-months (5 points lower than July) The historical average is 4%.
- 12% of small business owners believe it is a good time to expand their business (no change from July).
- -9% of small businesses reported higher sales in the past 3-months (5 points lower than July) and 6% expect higher sales in the next 3-months (1 point lower than July).
- 31% of small businesses raised their prices in August (no change from July). 28% are planning on raising prices in the next 3-months (no change from July).
- 53% of small businesses reported capital outlays in the last 6 months (1 point lower than July) and 24% are planning capital purchases in the next 6-months (1 point lower than July).
- -2% of small business owners expect better credit conditions in the next 3-months (2 points better than July).
- Small businesses paid an average rate for short maturity loans of 7.4% in August (0.4 points lower than July) and 25% of small business owners report borrowing on a regular basis (2 points lower than July). The historical average is 34%.
Small Business Fast Facts
Honoring America's Top Small Businesses
Explore More Small Business Insights
The U.S. Chamber's SVP of Small Business Policy Tom Sullivan appears regularly on ASBN - America's Small Business Network and hosts a weekly podcast to deliver fresh insights on small business to viewers and listeners nationwide.
Watch Tom Sullivan talk all things small business with Jim Fitzpatrick on ASBN (America's Small Business Network), including the latest news and policy updates for Main Street business owners. New episodes are added every month so that you can watch them anytime.
Small Business Outlook Podcast
Listen to the Small Business Podc(AI)st for more insights from the U.S. Chamber's Tom Sullivan and NFIB's Holly Wade. Each week, they combine their own expertise with the latest AI tools for podcasting and music editing to deliver an AI-cast that keeps you entertained and up-to-speed on everything small business.
From Main Street
About the author
Thomas M. Sullivan
Thomas M. Sullivan is senior vice president of small business policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Working with chambers of commerce and the U.S. Chamber’s nationwide network, Sullivan harnesses the views of small businesses and translates that grassroots power into federal policies that bolster free enterprise and reward entrepreneurship. He runs the U.S.
