Merchant Services / 5 min read
High-Risk Merchant Accounts: Reserves, Holds and Descriptor Clarity
Cannabis-adjacent, smoke shop, telemarketing and other monitored businesses need cleaner records before processors ask questions.
Published articles
Technology / 4 min read
CRM for Micro Merchants Means Remembering the Customer, Not Buying Complexity
A simple customer list can drive repeat visits, service reminders and targeted offers without a large platform.
Finance / 5 min read
No Tax on Tips in 2026: What Restaurants, Salons and Other Tipped Businesses Need to Get Right
For restaurants, salons, barbers, valets, spas, coffee shops and other tipped businesses, the headline sounds simple: workers may owe less federal income tax on qualified tip income. The operating reality is more...
AI / 4 min read
The Two Types of Business Owners: Those Who Embrace AI and Those Who Resist It
The AI divide on Main Street is not about who likes technology. It is about who turns boring work into leverage. The owner who uses AI well is not replacing judgment. That...
Economy / 4 min read
July Inflation Cooled Slightly, but Small Businesses Still Face a 3.4% Price Problem
Inflation easing is not the same as costs falling. That is the part many small businesses feel before national headlines catch up. A bakery, cafe, salon, contractor or local retailer does not...
Economy / 4 min read
Tariffs, Input Costs and the Main Street Margin Squeeze
Tariffs do not arrive at a small business as a political theory. They arrive as higher wholesale invoices, delayed purchasing decisions, changed vendor terms and awkward price conversations with customers. For a...
Finance / 3 min read
Consumer Credit Is Still Growing: What Local Businesses Should Read Into the Numbers
Consumer credit growth can look like confidence. It can also look like stress. For local businesses, the difference matters. A customer using credit to buy a planned appliance, repair or service is...
Small Business Experience Design / 5 min read
Maria Dell: From Fashion Styling and Art Direction to Experience Design for Small Businesses
AMS Editorial Staff | Featuring Maria Dell A multidisciplinary creative is exploring how the thinking behind fashion, art direction, and immersive experiences can help small businesses turn everyday customer touchpoints into memorable brand experiences.
Finance / 2 min read
Cash Flow Management: What SMB Owners Should Review Now
Irregular revenue cycles, slow-paying clients, and delayed settlement times from traditional processors. A practical guide to the operating issue, what owners should measure, and one available solution.
AI / 4 min read
Federal AI Safety Rules Are Taking Shape: What Smaller Businesses Should Prepare For
Federal AI policy can sound remote until a local business signs a software contract. Then it becomes very practical. The AI tool that answers the phone, writes ads, screens applicants, summarizes invoices...
Economy / 1 min read
Small Businesses Enter August With Inflation Still Their Biggest Operating Concern
Small firms remain resilient, but inflation, financing cost and uncertainty continue to shape hiring and expansion.
Operations / 2 min read
Missed Phone Calls and Inbound Leads: What SMB Owners Should Review Now
Losing prospective customers because inbound calls go straight to voicemail during peak hours. A practical guide to the operating issue, what owners should measure, and one available solution.