small business owners

South Korea's government under President Lee is restructuring its small and medium enterprise support programmes, directing more funding toward technology and startup ventures while cutting back on traditional loans and employment subsidies. The policy shift signals an effort to prioritise innovation-driven growth over broad-based business aid, sparking debate over whether conventional small businesses will be left behind.

U.S. Bank has introduced new credit cards aimed at small businesses, responding to growing demand for rewards programs among business owners. The launch positions the bank to compete more directly in the small business banking segment, where rewards and cash-back benefits are increasingly seen as key factors in card choice. Details on specific reward rates and card features have not yet been widely reported.

The National Federation of Independent Business brought small business owners to the US Capitol for a healthcare summit focused on health coverage costs and policy affecting small employers. Participants are expected to meet with lawmakers and discuss rising premiums and healthcare access as key concerns for small businesses.

Italian businesses are facing the September 30 deadline for paying the stamp duty on electronic invoices, but not all VAT-registered companies are required to pay it. Tax information sites are clarifying which categories of professionals and firms are exempt and who must settle the amount by the end of the month, prompting questions among accountants and small business owners.

The city of Stanton, California is considering new business license requirements aimed at reducing crime at known trouble spots. Under the proposed rules, businesses in areas flagged for repeated criminal activity would face stricter licensing conditions, giving the city more leverage over problem locations. Local reporting has drawn attention to how the measure could affect small business owners and city enforcement.

A bipartisan bill in Maryland aims to protect deposits held by small businesses in the state. The measure, reported by the Maryland Daily Record, would shield small business deposits, though details of its provisions and sponsors remain limited. The legislation comes amid ongoing concerns about banking security and access to funds for smaller enterprises.

Small businesses on Kauai are asking visitors to come back following Hurricane Lowell, saying the island is ready to welcome them with aloha and some patience as recovery continues. The appeal reflects concern that travelers may cancel trips even where damage was limited, hurting shops and restaurants that depend on tourism.

The Governors Small Business Summit is scheduled to take place in Dalhart, Texas on Thursday. The event will bring together state officials and small business owners, with the governor's office expected to engage directly with local entrepreneurs. The gathering is part of efforts to support and hear from small businesses across the Texas Panhandle region.

Intuit has announced that its QuickBooks accounting software is joining forces with Muse, the career and job discovery platform, in a move aimed at small businesses. The partnership is intended to connect small business owners with resources and tools for hiring and managing finances. Details on the scope and terms of the collaboration were not disclosed in the announcement.

Meta and Intuit have announced a partnership focused on small business intelligence, combining Meta's advertising and platform reach with Intuit's financial software expertise, including QuickBooks. The collaboration aims to give small businesses better tools and insights to manage customers and finances. Details of the scope and timing of the initiative remain limited.

The US Chamber of Commerce has published a checklist to guide small businesses through redesigning their websites. The guide covers the practical steps owners should take when updating an outdated site, from planning through launch. It is aimed at firms that rely on their online presence to reach customers but lack in-house web expertise.

A dispute has broken out among small business owners in San Francisco over the opening of a new gift shop on a quiet street. Local merchants are publicly clashing over the shop, with the conflict drawing attention in local media. The exact grievances behind the feud have not been detailed in available reporting.

Meta has introduced an AI agent designed for small businesses, built to learn the specifics of each company's work and assist with their operations. The move extends Meta's AI push into the small-business market, where owners often lack resources for dedicated support tools. Coverage so far focuses on what the agent can do and what it means for smaller firms competing with larger companies.

The National Federation of Independent Business has endorsed Christine Drazan, the Republican candidate for governor of Oregon. The small-business advocacy group's backing signals support for Drazan's platform among business owners in the state. The endorsement adds to her list of organizational supporters as the Oregon gubernatorial race draws attention.

A new report highlighted by InvestmentNews finds that most business owners want integrated advice covering their finances and operations together, but almost half are not receiving it. The finding points to a gap between what small business clients expect from advisers and the fragmented service many actually get, prompting discussion in the financial advice industry about how firms should restructure their offerings.

A federal judge has found that the IRS's pre-trial assessment of penalties in a microcaptive insurance case is lawful, according to Bloomberg Law. The ruling is a setback for microcaptive owners challenging the tax agency's authority to impose penalties before trial. The decision may shape how similar disputes between taxpayers and the IRS proceed, in an area already under close scrutiny by regulators.