Small business: Optimism is high, cash flow is tight

Small business: Optimism is high, cash flow is tight

Small business: Optimism is high, cash flow is tight Small businesses are entering 2026 with confidence. According to OnDeck's latest Small Business Cash Flow Trend Report:

• 94% project growth this year
• Yet 29% cite cash flow as a top concern
• 74% prefer non bank lenders for working capital
• 61% would use excess cash to pay down debt

The signal is clear: Growth ambition is strong yet liquidity pressure remains real. In an environment of higher rates and tighter credit, cash flow management is no longer operational. It is strategic. For FIs, this raises important questions:

1. Are we structuring products around how small businesses actually manage cash flow?
2. Are we providing flexibility without adding fragility?

Small businesses drive employment, local economies, and innovation. Helping them manage cash flow is not just lending. It is economic infrastructure. Source: https://www.ondeck.com/small-business-trends