Changing and rearranging: Unpacking the future of small business finance

Discover ways to overcome common financial challenges.

A person in overalls holds a tablet while tending to plants inside a small greenhouse, surrounded by lush indoor greenery and gardening tools in a bright, stylized illustration. — Josie Portillo

May 8, 2025

• 4 min read

Succeeding with support: Start, run, and grow your business with Chase. Its suite of products is specifically designed to help business owners overcome their biggest pain points and manage everyday activities efficiently. Learn more.

Small business operations have evolved significantly over the past five years. From the rise of AI and automation to the vast expansion of e-commerce and digital payments, there have been seismic shifts in how small businesses run. Tack on the evolving trade environment, with its potential impacts on tariffs and supply chains, and things become even more complex.

These changes impact many areas of a business, especially finances. The US Treasury Department found that the majority of small business owners have reported financial hardship due to higher prices on goods, services, and wages.

We teamed up with Chase for Business® to explore the financial challenges small business owners face—and how to succeed despite them. See which ones resonate with you and your business.

Navigating economic uncertainty

An unpredictable economic landscape has been a major concern for small business owners for years. According to the US Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Small Business Update, inflation and regulatory uncertainty are top worries for business owners across the country.

Small businesses are grappling with rising prices and high interest rates that impact borrowing costs and access to capital. To adapt, businesses are implementing an array of strategies. In its research, Chase found the top actions growing businesses are taking include bolstering cash buffers amid elevated uncertainty and paying down existing debt.

Resilience, however, also continues to be a cornerstone for small business leaders in 2025. Chase found 41% of small businesses nationally identify as being in “growth mode.”

Many small businesses find that flexibility and speed play a huge role in navigating ever-changing environments. That’s why Chase was one of the first banks to offer Real-Time, Same-Day ACH, or Standard ACH payments¹ without a flat monthly fee. Instead, customers pay as they go. With these options available in Chase’s online payment center, businesses can send payments when they want and reduce the use of snail-mail checks by choosing a delivery method that best fits their needs.

Leveraging new technology for growth and competitiveness

In today’s fast-paced world, small businesses have an abundance of opportunities to leverage technology. Many are eager to do so, too, with 77% planning to adopt emerging tech like AI, according to the US Chamber of Commerce.

Those who have embraced technology are not only growing but also facing the future with optimism. With inflation being a major challenge, 79% of businesses say tech has helped them avoid raising prices for their customers. The case for embracing more tech is compelling—undeniably so.

With so many platforms available, tech can support businesses in countless ways. By looking to their existing resources, small business owners can unlock new potential. Take Chase, for example, which recently launched the Customer Insights² platform to their business checking customers, giving them powerful industry insights at their fingertips. The tool has been available to customers who accept credit card payments with Chase, serving up data-driven insights about their business to help make smarter marketing decisions, connect with new customers, build loyalty, and stay ahead of competitors. And they recently teamed up with Google Ads to make it easier for Chase Payment Solutions customers to turn insights into action, enabling them to create Google Ads within the tool.

Managing cash flow

Cash is king, especially with rising costs from inflation, interest rates, and wages. Small businesses are increasingly turning to tech to manage this vital resource. The US Chamber of Commerce reported that 38% of small business owners use tech to access and manage credit and cash flow, with more adopting cash flow management platforms.

Chase for Business offers a digital invoicing³ solution that streamlines the process of creating, sending, and tracking customer payments, saving time and energy while enabling faster payments—all without the cost of an additional tech platform.

Forging ahead financially

In a world full of uncertainties, small business owners are focusing on what they can control: their resources, employees, actions, tools, and strategies. With a resource like Chase, they gain the support needed to secure their financial footing and thrive in a changing landscape.

Easy, efficient, everyday support.

Chase for Business consistently innovates to better support small businesses and their evolving needs. Get started to learn how they can elevate your business operations.

¹ Real-time payment, Same-day ACH, and Standard ACH transactions each count toward your total daily limits for transaction amounts.

Real-time payments: Your payment generally arrives moments after you send it. We review all payments before we process them, and we may require additional information which could cause some delay. If you use Chase dual control, we will begin to process your payment once an authorized user approves it. Enrollment in ACH Payment Services is required to activate real-time payments. There is a fee of 1% of the payment amount, up to $25 per transaction for a real-time payment. Real-time payments are unavailable from 2:00 to 6:00 AM ET on business days and cannot be cancelled or reversed, once processing begins. Not all payees’ banks support real-time payments. Real-time payments use The Clearing House network to process payments and are not subject to Nacha rules and are not ACH transactions.

Same-day ACH payments: Your payment generally arrives by end of day, when authorized before the 2:00 PM ET cut-off. Most payments scheduled after the 2:00 PM ET cut-off time will arrive the next business day by 1:00 PM ET. We review all payments before we process them, and we may require additional information which could cause some delay. Enrollment in ACH Payment Services is required. There is a fee of 1% of the payment amount, up to $25 per transaction for a Same-day ACH payment. Same-day ACH payment delivery is available during business days only. Final availability of the funds is subject to the recipient’s financial institution. Same-day ACH payments are subject to Nacha rules.

Standard ACH, including file uploaded payments must be approved by 8:00 PM ET (on the send on date) and arrival time is as early as 1 business day. Standard ACH payments authorized after the cut-off time will be processed the next business day. You can cancel a Standard ACH as long as you do so before the 8:00 PM ET cut-off time. We review all payments before we process them, and we may require additional information which could cause some delay. Standard ACH payments are subject to Nacha rules.

*Additional information including transaction limits can be viewed in “Learn more” within the Business Payment Center

² Customer Insights is generated from a variety of sources, including but not limited to certain transactions processed by Paymentech, LLC, also known as Chase Payment Solutions. Portions may also include intellectual property from Esri and its licensors and are used under license. Copyright © 2024 Esri and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Timing & privacy

We continually update your insights, but there’s typically a delay of a few days between the transaction date and inclusion in your insights. We’ll show information for the time period indicated, and all data is aggregated and anonymized to protect customer privacy.

Informational purposes only

Customer Insights has been prepared for your general informational purposes only and is not designed to fully take into account all individual client circumstances, objectives or needs and therefore is not intended as a recommendation of a particular product or strategy. Customer Insights may not be relied on for tax, legal, investment or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. We are not liable for decisions made or actions taken in reliance on any of the information presented herein. The information or insights presented are intended to enhance your ability to reach all individuals regardless of age, income, gender or any other attribute and should be used in compliance with laws and regulations.

³Invoicing with Chase Business Complete Banking is not currently available for all merchants.

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.

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