New Report: Small Businesses Enter 2026 with Sustained Confidence, Expanding Access to Capital and Growing Use of AI

Core Insights - Small business confidence is strong as 94% of owners anticipate growth in 2026, matching an all-time high in survey history [8] - Small businesses are increasingly investing in AI and utilizing a variety of financing options to support sustainable growth [2][3] Growth Expectations - 94% of small business owners project growth in 2026, which is an all-time high for the survey [8] - Consumer spending trends (38%) and access to credit (37%) are key factors influencing business strategies for 2026 [8] Challenges - The top challenges faced by small businesses include inflation (31%) and cash flow issues (29%) as reported in the fourth quarter [8] Financing Preferences - 74% of small businesses prefer non-bank lenders for working capital needs due to their speed and ease compared to traditional banks [8] AI Adoption - 56% of small businesses report using AI, with 63% of those users applying it in marketing [8] - 87% of all AI users indicate a positive impact on their business [8]