With 2023 planning well under way, it would be helpful to know what kind of economy we’re heading into. While it’s clear we’re heading into an uncertain 18–24 months, there are enough indicators to form some base assumptions. Will there be franchise growth in a recession? Let’s start with the consumer. In 2021, we saw […]
We are deep enough into the pandemic to more clearly see consumer patterns. The initial brunt of inflation has been absorbed and its implications are better understood. Labor shortages and supply chain issues coursing through the economy are revealing their impact. We’re far enough into 2022 to start seeing a picture of how franchise development […]
Effective August 1, 2022, for any complete application received by SBA, or any request for an SBA loan number made under the lender’s delegated authority, the following maximum fixed interest rates apply – For loans of $25,000 and less, maximum allowable fixed rate = Prime + 8% (800 basis points) For loans of more than $25,000 […]
We clearly are seeing the impact of inflation as it increases operating costs across supply and labor inputs in 2022. Is there relief coming from this profit-eroding upward pressure? Small-business owners began signaling inflation concerns in the summer of 2021 and now it’s become a major concern. The most recent NFIB Small Business Economic Trends […]
We’ve had spectacular job growth in the past 2 years, yet the U.S. labor force is still about 1.8 million workers lower than at the start of the pandemic. Initially, many said the slow employment recovery was because of the Cares Act providing a safety net for many lower-wage employees who otherwise would have returned […]