Despite the turbulence in the overall economy, small-business owners remain upbeat while continuing to embrace AI and keeping a close eye on changing market conditions, including tariff fluctuations. Those are among the major findings of the latest Small Business Cash Flow Trend Report from lender OnDeck and cash-flow analytics firm Ocrolus.
Overall, 93% of small-business owners taking part in the survey said they anticipate moderate to significant growth in the next 12 months, consistent with sentiment across the last eight quarters. Members of the retail trade in the small-business sector showed similar resilience, with more than 92% of such enterprises expecting moderate to significant growth despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, the survey found.
“Small businesses remain confident in growth opportunities in the coming year, even as they navigate challenges like inflation and cash flow,” said Jim Granat, Co-President of Small Business at OnDeck’s parent company, Enova. “They’re investing in AI, choosing fintechs for faster access to capital and staying focused on what they can control – their customers, cash flow and creativity.”
Other key findings from the survey include:
- Access to Working Capital: Seventy-five percent (75%) of small businesses surveyed are bypassing traditional banks for non-bank or fintech lenders when seeking funding, up slightly from 73% in Q2.
- Top Challenges: Cash flow and inflation remain the top concerns for small business owners, reported by 30% of respondents.
- AI Adoption: A majority of business owners (52%) have incorporated AI into their operations.
- Navigating Tariffs: Most small-business owners (65%) remain unsure about the impact of tariffs, saying other factors – such as seasonal demand (40%) and credit access (38%) – will shape their business strategy more than tariffs (18%) for the rest of the year.
Click here for more from the nationwide survey, which is based on responses from 531 small business owners and was fielded Sept. 10-21.
