A fraud fight with Chase Bank | Making local businesses thrive
Nothing beats being your own boss, except when the economy veers into uncertainty and chaos. This week, we look at why otherwise upbeat entrepreneurs consider working for the man again. We also highlight some key strategies to make your local business thrive.
But first, check out the interview with this Chicago small business owner who says Chase Bank held her responsible for funds lost due to fraud.
Male gaze. The men’s makeup trend finds wings on TikTok and Instagram.
Support group. How Minneapolis’ small businesses support city amid turmoil.
Small but mighty. Vermont’s local businesses turn out for National "ICE Out" event.
Carte blanche. U.S. Bank rolls out credit card aimed at SMBs.
Last call for Sax. Saks Global to close most of its Off 5th and Last Call discount stores.
10 things every SMB owner should do in 2026
Fortune rounded up 10 very valuable insights based on interviews with small business owners who talked in detail about how they actually make money and run their companies day-to-day. They include building your business around meaning and margins, paying attention to specific and underserved customers, letting your personal experience guide your niche, making deliberate growth decisions, being disciplined with cash, using constraints to stay focused, investing in systems and infrastructure, building culture and learning from mistakes.
Why this matters: A look into how fellow small business owners are actually running their businesses and making decisions can be more insightful than abstract advice from experts and academics. (Fortune)
Entrepreneurs are happier, but many still considering W-2 jobs
Most entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and self-employed individuals report a better quality of life and more upbeat outlook than their counterparts who toil for “the man” from nine to five, Monday through Friday. The age-old trade-off is always freedom and unlimited earning potential for a reliable paycheck, company benefits and more job security. However, according to recent polls, there’s still a “significant willingness” among self-employed workers to move to a salaried job due to the level of economic hardship facing small businesses right now. Despite this, the report found that the “overall number of self-employed workers has remained broadly unchanged.” There are no right answers, so watch this space as more data comes to light as time goes on.
Why this matters: Owning a small business isn’t for the faint of heart and despite the commitment, not every entrepreneur can survive unprecedented economic challenges. Remember that pivoting to a W-2 job is OK, and may even be just temporary. (Inc.)
Looking to start a new business? Here are 34 ideas
Once-hot sneaker brand Allbirds closing all but 2 U.S. stores
Bay Area businesses impacted by December blackout sue PG&E
Takeaways from 2026 and what’s next for NRF’s Retail’s Big Show
North American high streets are notching retail sales highs
A mom-preneur’s advice on how to become an entrepreneur
Ever dream of launching or running a new business? Take notes from Tara Monosoff, author of entrepreneurial handbooks like “Your Million Dollar Dream: Regain Control & Be Your Own Boss” and “Secrets of Millionaire Moms.” Her tips to achieving entrepreneurship include making a conscious decision to change the status quo; identifying the right business for you; following your intuition; creating a business plan; knowing your target audience; understanding your personal finances and funding choices and building a support network, selling value and letting people know about it.
“Even though we purchase products and services every day, people don’t want to be ‘sold.’ Focus on serving others. The more people you serve, the more cash flow you’ll see. ”–Tara Monosoff, Author and CEO of MomInvented.com
Why this matters: The biggest hurdle to becoming your own boss is often identifying what kind of business you want to run. Advice from someone who’s walked the talk and built companies also never hurts. (Entrepreneur)
The best small business CRMs
Forbes vetted and ranked 41 CRM (customer relationship management) platforms and ranked 33 features and tools that matter most to small businesses. For anyone looking for software to assist in capturing new customers and managing existing ones, it’s worth a read. Among the critical business functions and criteria they identified were task management, dashboards, marketing, mobile use, small budgets, document and contact management, free plans, AI features and lead management.
Why this matters: Not every CRM platform can be everything to everyone. Make sure you know what you need it for before you arbitrarily choose the “best” one for a small business. (Forbes)
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The SKUpe is curated and written by Marcy Medina and edited by Bianca Prieto.
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