Latest Small business News

Tax changes small business owners should be aware of as the tax deadline looms

Mar. 27, 2024 11:59 AM EDT

As Tax Day approaches, there are plenty of things small business owners should keep in mind when filing taxes this year. April 15 is still the annual tax deadline for many small businesses although, unlike individuals, small businesses can have varying deadlines depending on the type...

Visa, Mastercard settle long-running antitrust suit over swipe fees with merchants

Mar. 26, 2024 14:38 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Visa and Mastercard announced a major settlement with U.S. merchants on Tuesday, potentially ending nearly two decades of litigation over the fees charged every time a credit or debit card is used in a store or restaurant. The deal would lower and cap the fees...

Inflation remains a headache for small business owners

Mar. 19, 2024 13:47 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Inflation remains small businesses' chief worry, according to a new survey showing their optimism fell in February. The National Federation of Independent Businesses' Optimism Index fell to 89.4 in February. It's been below the 50-year average of 98 for 26 straight...

Social media outages hurt small businesses -- so it's important to have a backup plan

Mar. 06, 2024 15:09 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — To businesses that rely on social media platforms for advertising, client communication or direct sales, Tuesday's Meta platforms outage was more than a communal inconvenience. Experts say that whenever there's an outage — be it social media or other...

New York sues cash-advance operation for issuing fraudulent loans with rates as high as 820%

Mar. 05, 2024 18:39 PM EST

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A New York-based cash-advance operation exploited struggling small businesses across the country by issuing fraudulent, “predatory” loans at interest rates as high as 820%, New York Attorney General Letitia James alleged in a new lawsuit. James filed the...

The Secure Act 2.0 offers options for small businesses who want to offer retirement plans

Mar. 05, 2024 13:56 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — Many small businesses don’t offer a retirement plan to employees, since it can be quite costly and complicated. But the Secure Act 2.0 passed by Congress in late 2022 and being slowly rolled out is designed to make it easier for small businesses to offer...

Small business owners are optimistic for growth in 2024

Feb. 27, 2024 14:36 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — While it seems increasingly unlikely the U.S. economy is headed for recession, small businesses still face headwinds like higher costs and difficulty retaining qualified workers. But owners say they're optimistic as 2024 gets underway, according to a new survey from...

Many small business owners see 2024 as a 'make or break' year, survey shows

Feb. 20, 2024 16:04 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — About 40% of small business owners think 2024 will be a “make or break” year for their business, according to a survey by messaging service Slack. After several years of dealing with the pandemic, rising inflation and a tight job market, some small businesses...

A small business in war-time Gaza sews padded cloth diapers, creating jobs and helping weary parents

Feb. 16, 2024 11:42 AM EST

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Their scissors move quickly, shearing pieces of white cloth to be stitched together with cotton pads and taken to market in battered cardboard boxes. Before the day is done, the Palestinian seamstresses will have sewn 500 diapers and distributed them to...

Small business acquisitions leveled off in 2023 as interest rates climbed, but 2024 looks better

Feb. 06, 2024 15:36 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — Is it a good time to sell your small business — or maybe buy one? Small business acquisitions were up and down in 2023, reflecting the increase in interest rates that threw a chill into the market. But a strong fourth quarter, helped by a signal...