Banking / 1 min read
SBA Lending Is Strong, but Borrowers Still Need to Understand the Real Cost of Capital
Record program volume does not mean every loan is inexpensive, fast or appropriate for every borrower.
Published articles
Banking / 1 min read
SBA Financing Limits Expanded: What the $10 Million Combined Capacity Means for Growing Firms
Expanded SBA-backed capacity can change the financing conversation for larger SMB projects.
Government / 3 min read
The First Lady’s Social-Media Record: What Is Documented and What Is Not?
A source-bound analysis separating media mentions, reported likes, artwork, deleted accounts and unanswered questions about Rama Duwaji's public record.
Banking / 1 min read
Working Capital in a High-Rate Economy: Match the Financing to the Problem
Inventory, equipment, receivables and emergency cash needs have different durations and should not use the same financing automatically.
Industry Trends / 2 min read
Vanishing Main Street Part 11: Immigration Allegations, Employee Status, and What Responsible Coverage Can Say
Claims about undocumented workers are serious. Unless supported by official records, court filings, agency action, or reliable reporting, they should not be published as fact. Business coverage can analyze employer verification obligations without naming...
Merchant Services / 1 min read
Chargeback evidence, friendly fraud, and the economics of dispute operations: June 2026 Payments Update
Dispute rules increasingly reward merchants that keep clean records across checkout, delivery, authorization, refund, and customer-service workflows. AMS Editorial examines the payments and fintech implications for SMBs and SMEs in June 2026.
Payments / 1 min read
The 10-Basis-Point Swipe-Fee Reduction: What It Could Mean for Merchants
The revised settlement calls for a 0.1 percentage point interchange reduction for five years; here is what that means in basis points and merchant economics.
Operations / 1 min read
Measure the Delay Between Quote and Decision
An owner may focus on the number of quotes sent while overlooking how long each one waits for a decision. That delay affects scheduling, purchasing and the accuracy of the workload forecast.
AI / 2 min read
AI Automation Is on the Menu: Will Local Business Reinvent? Part 2: AI Receptionists, Missed Calls, and the End of Voicemail Leakage
A local business can lose revenue when calls go unanswered during rush periods, after hours, or staff shortages. AMS Editorial explains the practical SMB automation play, where the upside is real, and where owners...
Operations / 1 min read
Check the Workload Before Extending Opening Hours
Longer hours can appear to offer an easy route to more sales. The harder question is whether those additional hours attract useful demand or spread the same customers across a more expensive day.
Cannabis Payments / 2 min read
Cashless ATM Workarounds Create Revenue Risk When Enforcement Changes: Week of January 16, 2026
Cashless ATM and miscoding workarounds can disappear quickly when sponsor banks, ATM networks, or card networks tighten enforcement. Weekly AMS coverage for cannabis, smoke shop, THC, and other high-risk merchant operators.
Banking / 2 min read
SAFER Banking Debate Keeps Cannabis Operators in a Planning Holding Pattern: Week of November 14, 2025
Federal cannabis banking proposals remain central because state legality alone does not give financial institutions the same comfort they have with ordinary retailers. Weekly AMS coverage for cannabis, smoke shop, THC, and other high-risk...