Main Street Briefing

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Daily small business news in five minutes. Three stories every weekday morning, no filler — what happened, why it matters to your business, and what to watch. Covering tariffs, SBA loans, IRS rules, Federal Reserve moves, labor, and regulation through the lens of small business owners, independent operators, and main street operators who need to stay informed but don't have time to read everything. Monday through Friday. Part of Main Street Media.

  1. 11h ago

    The Fed Holds, the SBA Doubles Down, and Late Payments Bite

    The Fed is holding rates steady, the SBA doubled its loan ceiling to $10 million, and unpaid invoices are squeezing Main Street harder than slow sales. Covers what stable rates mean for borrowing, who benefits from the new SBA limits and manufacturer fee waivers, and invoicing changes that get you paid earlier.

    4 min

  2. 1d ago

    Tariff Refunds, Supplier Leverage, and a Paperwork Win

    The Supreme Court struck down most emergency tariffs and a $166 billion refund portal is open, but small importers are already losing out to bigger players. Covers claiming your refund through a customs broker, why supplier diversification still matters, and the FinCEN ruling that freed domestic businesses from Beneficial Ownership reporting.

    4 min

  3. 2d ago

    Hiring Stalls, Health Costs Climb, AI Fills the Gap

    Small business optimism is stuck below average and hiring is the reason: 34% of owners can't fill open roles and most see few qualified applicants. Covers widening the hiring funnel, a ~10% 2026 health insurance renewal jump and alternatives, and how owners use AI to cover work they can't hire for.

    5 min

  4. 5d ago

    Rates on Hold, the Supply Chain Reckoning, and Food Inflation Hits Hard

    The Fed held rates steady for the third consecutive 2026 meeting — SBA loan rates of 9.75–14.75% are the operating reality. 43% of small importers are paying tariff costs exceeding 10% of COGS, and China Plus One has moved from option to necessity. And food-sector businesses are facing the worst monthly food inflation in nearly four years.

    5 min

  5. 6d ago

    Joint Employer Rules, the New-Grad Hiring Window, and a $50M Manufacturing Grant

    The SBA's Office of Advocacy is holding a labor roundtable today on joint employer standards — rules that could significantly affect small businesses using contractors, staffing agencies, or gig workers, with the administration signaling it wants to narrow the definition. June is peak hiring season for new college graduates, and the SBA has a $50M Made in America manufacturing grant open now with broader eligibility than the headline suggests.

    5 min

  6. May 27

    AI Is Working, Cyber Breaches Are Up, and Hiring Has Room Again

    82% of small businesses are now using AI tools, with 91% reporting a revenue boost and the average operator running five AI tools simultaneously. But the expanded digital footprint comes with risk: 1 in 3 SMBs was breached last year, 88% of those breaches involved ransomware, and AI-generated phishing is 4.5x more effective. On the brighter side, May labor data shows hiring gaining steam and more room for small businesses to compete.

    5 min

  7. May 26

    Tariff Refunds Are Moving — But So Is the Next Round of Tariffs MP3: MISSING — re-run Run Wondercraft.bat before uploading

    The CAPE tariff refund portal has processed $35B+ in approved claims with Treasury payments flowing as of May 12 — but 15% of filed claims are being rejected, and small businesses are at a disadvantage. The administration is already building replacement tariffs under Section 232 and Section 301 authority. And the Class of 2026 is entering the job market with growing interest in small business careers.

    5 min

  8. May 25

    Holiday Spend Down, Inflation Up, and a Tax Law Already Saving You Money

    Memorial Day 2026 is a tale of contradictions — consumer participation is up but average spending has dropped 70%, leaving small business retailers to protect margins in a tight holiday window. April inflation hit a three-year high at 3.8%, and the One Big Beautiful Bill is delivering real savings: 23% permanent Section 199A, full bonus depreciation back, average eligible owner saving ~$7,000 this year.

    5 min
See All (28)

About

Daily small business news in five minutes. Three stories every weekday morning, no filler — what happened, why it matters to your business, and what to watch. Covering tariffs, SBA loans, IRS rules, Federal Reserve moves, labor, and regulation through the lens of small business owners, independent operators, and main street operators who need to stay informed but don't have time to read everything. Monday through Friday. Part of Main Street Media.

Information

  • Creator
    MainStreet Media
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © MainStreet Media
  • Show Website
    Main Street Briefing