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11/03/2026

Small business owners — have you checked lately to see what grants or business programs you may qualify for?

There are more opportunities out there than many business owners realize, and the deadlines can come quickly.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s CO— regularly updates a list of grants, loans, and other small business programs. One current example is the Shophand $5K Small Business Boost Grant, which is designed to help U.S.-based small businesses with tech or operational challenges.

The current Shophand deadline is November 30, 2026. The award includes $2,500 in cash plus $2,500 in technical support and services.

Browse the U.S. Chamber list:
https://www.uschamber.com/co/run/business-financing/small-business-grants-and-programs

Learn more about the Shophand grant:
https://www.shophand.com/small-business-boost-grant

My advice: check eligibility carefully, watch the deadlines, and don’t assume you won’t qualify before you look.

When was the last time you searched for grants or programs for your business?

Applications are open for the Shophand $5k Small Business Boost Grant! Running a small business is a full-time juggling act — operations, marketing, systems, customers, finances, content, and somehow remembering to eat lunch. Technology should make that easier… but most small business owners don...

11/01/2026

November is Native American Heritage Month — a time to recognize the history, culture, contributions, and entrepreneurship of American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Native-owned businesses continue to play an important role in the U.S. economy, creating jobs, serving communities, and building businesses across a wide range of industries.

For Native American entrepreneurs and business owners, the U.S. Small Business Administration has an Office of Native American Affairs that provides resources, training, and technical assistance to help support business development and growth.

Learn more about available SBA resources here:
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-locations/headquarters/office-of-native-american-affairs/

This month is also a good reminder for all of us to support Native-owned businesses and learn more about the entrepreneurs behind them.

Mission statement The Office of Native American Affairs mission is to ensure that American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians seeking to create,

10/25/2026

Small Business Owners: Don’t Let Holiday Shipping Deadlines Sneak Up on You

If your business ships products, gifts, customer orders, or holiday cards, now is a good time to mark the USPS holiday shipping deadlines on your calendar.

For expected delivery before December 25, USPS recommends these send-by dates for the contiguous 48 states:

📦 USPS Ground Advantage: Thursday, December 17
✉️ First-Class Mail: Thursday, December 17
📬 Priority Mail: Friday, December 18
🚀 Priority Mail Express: Saturday, December 19

Deadlines can vary for military and international shipments, and USPS recommends shipping early whenever possible.

For small businesses, missing a holiday shipping deadline can mean disappointed customers, extra shipping expenses, and last-minute headaches.

If holiday sales are an important part of your business, now is the time to start planning your shipping calendar.

Check the complete USPS 2026 holiday shipping deadlines here:
https://www.usps.com/holiday/holiday-shipping-dates.htm

Small business owners — when do you usually set your final holiday order deadline for customers?

Sending cards or gifts for the holidays? Make sure they arrive on time: Get the recommended shipping deadlines for domestic, international, and military destinations.

10/19/2026

🤖 Could Small Businesses Eventually Get a Tax Credit for Training Employees in AI?

As artificial intelligence changes the workplace, one new proposal in Congress could give businesses an incentive to help employees build AI-related skills.

The Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Readiness Act of 2026 (H.R. 10515) includes a proposed AI Reskilling Tax Credit equal to 40% of qualified employee-training expenses.

Under the current bill:

✅ Businesses with annual gross receipts under $25 million could potentially receive up to $250,000 in credit per year.

✅ Other qualifying taxpayers could potentially receive up to $1 million annually.

✅ Certain small businesses could elect to apply eligible amounts against payroll taxes.

✅ Qualifying training could include approved reskilling programs, apprenticeships, employer-sponsored programs, and certain industry-recognized training.

For small business owners, this is worth watching. AI is creating new opportunities, but employees also need the skills to work effectively with these technologies.

A tax incentive could make investing in workforce training more affordable—especially for smaller companies that don’t have large training budgets.

⚠️ This is proposed legislation, not current tax law. H.R. 10515 has been introduced in Congress and would still need to move through the legislative process before becoming law.

Follow the bill:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10515

Small business owners: Would a tax credit make you more likely to invest in AI training for your employees?

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10/18/2026

👩‍💼 October Is National Women’s Small Business Month

October is a time to recognize the women entrepreneurs who are building businesses, creating jobs, serving communities, and helping drive the small-business economy.

According to the SBA’s 2026 small-business data, women owned about 14 million businesses, representing just over 40% of classifiable U.S. businesses.

For women entrepreneurs, there are also resources available to help with starting, growing, financing, and strengthening a business. The SBA’s Women’s Business Center network provides counseling, mentoring, training, and business-development support across the country.

This month is also a good reminder for all of us to:

✅ Support women-owned businesses
✅ Refer customers and clients
✅ Share resources and opportunities
✅ Encourage women who are thinking about starting a business
✅ Celebrate the women entrepreneurs already making an impact

National Women’s Small Business Month is about more than recognition—it’s about helping women-owned businesses continue to grow and succeed.

Learn more:
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/celebrations/national-womens-small-business-month-october

Tag a woman-owned small business you think deserves some recognition this month.

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In October, National Women's Small Business Month highlights the benefits and industry women bring to communities when they own a small business.

10/18/2026

♿ October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

For small business owners, every hire matters. That’s why National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a good time to think about whether your business is making room for qualified talent.

The 2026 theme is “Celebrating Value and Talent.”

Small businesses may not have large HR departments, but they still need to understand their responsibilities and create workplaces where qualified applicants and employees with disabilities can succeed.

A few things to keep in mind:

✅ The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) generally applies to employers with 15 or more employees.

✅ Covered employers may need to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

✅ Accommodations can include things like adaptive computer equipment, speech-recognition software, modified schedules, or changes to the work environment.

✅ Businesses that are federal contractors or receive certain federal financial assistance may also have responsibilities under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

For a small business, accessibility is not just about compliance. It can help widen your talent pool, improve retention, strengthen your workplace culture, and help you compete for good employees.

This month is a good opportunity to review your hiring practices, workplace accessibility, job descriptions, and accommodation process.

Learn more and download the official NDEAM resources:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam

Small business owners: If a qualified candidate could help your business grow, are your hiring process and workplace ready to support them?

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The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

10/18/2026

🔐 October Is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

This year’s theme is “Securing the Next 250.” For small business owners, it’s a good reminder that cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue—it’s a business issue.

CISA recommends four core cybersecurity actions businesses can take:

✅ Use strong passwords — Long, unique passwords make it harder for criminals to access your accounts.

✅ Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) — Adding a second step to logins can significantly strengthen account security.

✅ Recognize and report scams — Train yourself and your team to spot phishing emails, suspicious links, and other scams.

✅ Update your software — Keeping operating systems, apps, and security tools current helps close known vulnerabilities.

For small businesses, these basics can help protect customer information, employee records, company data, and day-to-day operations. CISA also offers no-cost tools and resources designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses.

📘 Four Cybersecurity Essentials for Businesses:
https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/four-cybersecurity-essentials-businesses

🛡️ Cybersecurity Awareness Month Toolkit:
https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/cybersecurity-awareness-month-toolkit

Small business owners: Which of these four cybersecurity steps do you think businesses overlook the most?

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10/12/2026

🚨 NEW FEDERAL AI RESOURCE: AMERICA.GOV

Small business owners already have enough on their plates. Finding the right government information shouldn’t have to mean searching through dozens of websites.

America.gov is a new government-operated resource designed to help people get answers from official government sources in one place.

You can ask questions about topics such as:

✅ Starting or registering a business
✅ Federal jobs
✅ Social Security
✅ Medicare
✅ Passports
✅ Veterans services
✅ Government forms and programs

No app is required, and you currently do not need to create an account just to ask questions. America.gov also says it does not save your chat history as an account history and does not use advertising trackers.

The government says additional features are planned for 2027, including the ability to complete certain forms, track progress, and organize government-related tasks in one place.

⚠️ One important reminder: America.gov itself says AI-generated answers can sometimes be incomplete or outdated, so always review the official agency source before making an important business, tax, legal, or financial decision.

Check it out here:
https://america.gov/

Have you tried America.gov yet? If so, what did you ask it?

Find answers from official government sources and clear next steps for the services you need with America.gov.

09/20/2026

💰 Tariff Refunds: What Could They Mean for Small Businesses?

Tariff refunds are beginning to flow back to U.S. companies, and some small businesses could benefit—either directly or through refunds passed along by larger companies they do business with.

According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Customs and Border Protection had received more than 252,000 tariff refund applications as of July 31, with approximately $128.7 billion in claims accepted for processing.

Some large companies, including FedEx, have indicated that they plan to pass eligible refunds back to customers. That means some small businesses may ultimately see money returned even if they didn’t file a claim themselves.

For business owners who do receive a refund, the next question is important:

What should you do with the money?

Possible uses could include:
• Paying down business debt
• Building cash reserves
• Investing in equipment or technology
• Marketing and customer acquisition
• Hiring or employee development
• Preparing for future cost increases

A one-time refund can provide breathing room—but deciding how to use it strategically can have a longer-term impact on your business.

Read the Wall Street Journal report:
https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/trump-tariff-refunds-company-earnings-1af269a2

If your business received an unexpected refund, where would you put the money first?

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Apple, Nike and FedEx are just a few companies recovering big sums, and some are passing at least a share on to customers

09/20/2026

🤖 Small Businesses Using AI Are Hiring Faster

AI isn’t just helping small businesses save time—it may also be helping them grow.

According to a recent Gusto survey, businesses that adopted AI grew their staff about 5% more during their first year of using the technology compared with businesses that didn’t.

The impact was even stronger for very small businesses. Companies with fewer than 10 employees grew their teams about 10% more than comparable businesses that weren’t using AI.

And this isn’t limited to technology companies. AI adoption and hiring growth are showing up across industries including construction, manufacturing, restaurants, accounting, professional services and more.

For small business owners, the takeaway is worth considering: AI doesn’t necessarily mean replacing people. Used strategically, it can help businesses become more productive, serve more customers and create room for growth.

👉 Read the Gusto research:
https://gusto.com/resources/gusto-insights/ai-and-smb-hiring-2026

Is your business using AI yet? If so, what are you using it for?

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New findings from Gusto show that small businesses that adopted AI were more likely to grow their teams in the year after AI adoption.