Cash Flow Crisis: Why Small Businesses Are Struggling This Year
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The cash flow squeeze hitting small businesses in 2026 has pushed many owners toward dangerous financial decisions. With traditional lenders turning away borrowers and costs climbing, a predatory lending industry stands ready to profit from desperation.
Predatory Lending Fills the Gap
NPR reported this week that merchant cash advances — high-cost financing that averages 94% annual interest equivalent — have become a lifeline for struggling small businesses. One advocacy group documented rates as high as 350%. These products technically avoid loan classification, meaning standard lending protections do not apply.
The Bluevine 2026 Business Owner Success Survey paints a troubling picture. Only 30% of small business owners report profitability above expectations in 2025, down sharply from 57% the year before. More than three-quarters sacrificed something last year to keep their businesses running — personal health, family time, or financial stability.
Tariffs triggered much of this crisis. How Tariffs Are Crushing Small Businesses in 2026 — And What Owners Can Do.
Business owners importing goods watched costs explode with little warning or recourse.
Owners Scramble for Capital
The OnDeck and Ocrolus Q4 2025 Cash Flow Trend Report shows 63% of small business owners plan to seek additional capital by early 2026, up 66% from the previous year. One in four plans to use new funds simply to strengthen cash reserves or emergency funds.
Traditional financing remains difficult to access. According to Federal Reserve data, major financial institutions approve only about 27% of small business loan applications. This rejection rate pushes borrowers toward alternatives with minimal oversight and maximum fees.
The merchant cash advance industry has ballooned from $9 billion in 2014 to nearly $20 billion by 2019, according to federal estimates. The tariff crisis likely pushed that figure much higher. Former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Rohit Chopra told NPR he found industry tactics that would make a mobster blush.
Court Decision Could Bring Relief
Meanwhile, a landmark Supreme Court case could alter the financial landscape. The Supreme Court Tariff Case: What Business Owners Need to Know. A ruling against current tariffs might trigger refunds for businesses that paid duties under the challenged executive orders.
The Bluevine 2026 survey also found 42% of small business owners plan to increase efficiency through technology, including AI-enabled workflows. Another 37% plan to launch new products or services to stay profitable despite high costs.
New law firms launching practices face these same cash pressures. Marketing budgets must stretch further. Investments in professional infrastructure need to generate immediate returns. Toppe Consulting builds websites and marketing systems specifically designed to help small law firms compete efficiently against larger competitors.
About Toppe Consulting
Toppe Consulting provides digital marketing services exclusively for law firms. Our team helps solo practitioners and small firms compete online through professional websites, SEO, and targeted advertising.
About the Author
Jim Toppe is the founder of Toppe Consulting, a digital marketing agency specializing in law firms. He holds a Master of Science in Management from Clemson University and teaches Business Law and Marketing at Greenville Technical College. Jim also serves as publisher and editor for South Carolina Manufacturing, a digital magazine. His unique background combines legal knowledge with digital marketing expertise to help attorneys grow their practices through compliant, results-driven strategies.
Works Cited
“2026 Business Owner Success Survey (BOSS) Report.” Bluevine, 5 Feb. 2026, bluevine.com/blog/business-owner-success-survey-2026.
Selyukh, Alina, and Scott Horsley. “Small Businesses Are Getting Help Paying Tariffs — At a High Cost.” NPR, 9 Feb. 2026, npr.org/2026/02/09/nx-s1-5628425/shark-tank-tariffs-loans-cash-advance.
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