small business

NC’s main streets get tool to help small businesses thrive

September 12, 2025 Dan Reeves

A new state certification program is aiming to transform how small businesses operate in Main Street communities across North Carolina—by turning them into destinations. The Certified North Carolina Destination Business designation, launched by the N.C. […]

Businesses around Fort Bragg pay small fortune for name change

June 6, 2025 Allen G. Breed

FAYETTEVILLE — When it came to picking a name for his business, Ralph Rodriguez rolled the dice. He went with Fort Liberty Pawn & Gun. It’s going to cost him about $30,000. “That’s signage, uniforms, […]

Tariffs seen as beneficial to some small manufacturers

April 27, 2025 Mae Anderson

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Drew Greenblatt is fully on board with the Trump administration’s use of tariffs to rebalance a global trading system that it says favors foreign companies over U.S. manufacturers. Greenblatt is the president […]

Stein announces grant program for Helene-impacted businesses

February 3, 2025 A.P. Dillon

RALEIGH — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein on Friday announced a $30 million grant program to support small businesses affected by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. The initiative, launched in partnership with Dogwood Health […]

Small biz owners are both hopeful and anxious about the holidays, taking a cue from their customers

November 10, 2023 The Associated Press

NEW YORK — All signs point to a relatively solid holiday season for America’s small businesses. Yet, owners of these businesses appear to have a collective anxiety about the months ahead. They have their customers […]

Tillis tackles state of economy at small business event

March 22, 2023 Matt Mercer

RALEIGH — Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) headlined an event for small business leaders across North Carolina on Monday in downtown Raleigh — a stone’s throw away from the General Assembly, where he helped usher in […]

Small businesses to tackle long list of challenges in 2023

January 12, 2023 The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Small businesses face a mix of old and new challenges as 2023 begins. A looming recession, still high inflation and labor woes are some of issues carrying over from 2022 that small […]

As small businesses raise prices, some customers push back

September 19, 2022 Mae Anderson, Associated Press

NEW YORK — Inflation isn’t only costing small businesses money. It’s costing them customers as well. At the Bushwick Grind Cafe in Brooklyn, New York, Kymme Williams-Davis has raised prices and switched to different types […]

Article

Small businesses feel the pinch from slowing housing market

September 2, 2022 Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — The chill in the housing market is rippling out to the carpenters, landscapers and other small businesses that lose out when fewer homeowners are renovating their properties. Inflation was already causing some homeowners […]

Don’t bank on your business to fund your retirement

August 23, 2022 Kelsey Sheehy, NerdWallet

Relying on your business to fund your retirement is a risky bet. A business failure, health issues or shifting market conditions can leave you unable to retire fully. Rather than gamble on everything going right, […]