Small Business Trends

We're back! The Small Biz Breakdown Crew (including Ivana, John, Leland, Monique, Ramon and Brent) starts 2025 with questions, predictions, optimism and concerns about the year ahead. Including ho much will small businesses be hurt if #TikTok ges away, what percentage of software sales will be done by #AI, and will the tariffs promised by the new administration be good or bad for US small businesses. Join us and add your voice to the conversation. #smallbiz

Is IRS coming after JustAnswer a harbinger of things to come for other Gig economy sites?

💼📊 A California federal court has authorized the IRS to issue a John Doe summons to JustAnswer LLC, a platform where experts offer services, seeking information on U.S. taxpayers who earned income between 2017 and 2020. This investigation is part of the IRS’s larger effort to ensure gig economy workers, such as those on platforms like Uber, Airbnb, and Etsy, are reporting their income and paying taxes. The IRS is focusing on identifying workers who may not have complied with tax laws, using John Doe summonses to gather information on those with unknown identities. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gcKbEUjt https://lnkd.in/gQKDNWyZ #GigEconomy #IRS #TaxCompliance #JohnDoeSummons #JustAnswer #FreelanceWorkers #TaxLaw #Uber #Airbnb #Etsy #OnlinePlatforms #SmallBusiness #TaxInvestigation #IRSEnforcement #SelfEmployed #TaxObligations

🌍👩💼 A new Booking.com report examines trends in women’s business travel, highlighting top destinations, safety concerns, and important amenities. U.S. cities like Boston, Seattle, and Minneapolis offer strong networking and women-focused events. Globally, countries like Sweden, Belgium, and Portugal stand out for gender equality and women in leadership roles. Safety remains a major concern for female travelers, with women also prioritizing convenient amenities like air conditioning, parking, and direct flights. The report emphasizes the need for supportive environments to ensure safe, comfortable travel for women. Read More: https://lnkd.in/ghXhNwGk https://lnkd.in/guQDthfr #WomenInBusiness #BusinessTravel #WomenTravelers #GenderEquality #Networking #FemaleEntrepreneurs #TravelSafety #BusinessEvents #Accommodations #WomenInLeadership #Sweden #Belgium #Portugal #TravelTrends #WorkTravel

💬 Wix has launched its new AI Site-Chat feature, designed to help businesses provide better customer support and enhance engagement. This virtual agent is available 24/7, offering personalized recommendations, real-time information, and answering customer queries even when business owners are offline. By integrating with website data, it delivers accurate, tailored responses and captures valuable leads. The tool helps streamline customer interactions, improve conversions, and can be customized to fit your brand’s voice. Available for free with premium upgrade options. Read More: https://zurl.co/qADqz https://zurl.co/etCYH #Wix #AIChat #SmallBusinessSupport #CustomerEngagement #AI #BusinessTools #CustomerService #WebsiteFeatures #BusinessGrowth #LeadCapture #RealTimeSupport #EcommerceTools #SalesBoost #TechForBusiness #CustomerExperience #24/7Support

🏛️ President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler to head the Small Business Administration (SBA). Loeffler, known for her leadership as CEO of Bakkt and her ownership of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream, is expected to prioritize reducing regulations and red tape that impact small businesses. She will focus on making the SBA more accountable to taxpayers by addressing waste, fraud, and regulatory overreach. If confirmed, she will succeed Isabel Casillas Guzman, who currently leads the SBA under President Biden. Read More: https://zurl.co/uXxiY #SmallBusiness #SBA #KellyLoeffler #DonaldTrump #Regulations #RedTape #BusinessLeadership #TaxpayerAccountability #FraudPrevention #SmallBizSupport #GovernmentNominee #Entrepreneurship #BusinessNews #BidenAdministration #BusinessGrowth

🚀 Meta has introduced a new feature on Instagram called trial reels, designed to help creators test their content with non-followers before posting it to their main audience. This tool allows creators to experiment with fresh ideas without the fear of alienating their core followers. Trial reels are hidden from the profile and Reels tab unless manually shared or automatically posted if they perform well. Creators can track engagement metrics to make informed decisions on content sharing. Rolling out on December 10, 2024, this feature aims to enhance creative freedom. Read More: https://zurl.co/zrLvI https://zurl.co/Itdey #InstagramTips #SocialMediaMarketing #ContentCreation #InstagramFeatures #TrialReels #CreatorTools #ContentStrategy #SocialMediaGrowth #ReelsMarketing #InstagramUpdates #SocialMediaTips #InfluencerMarketing #InstagramCreators #ContentTesting #MetaNews

4 hours a week?! 🤯 Time is money, people! This is your sign to ditch the inbox clutter and level up your productivity game. #TimeHack #Productivity #ZeroInbox #LinkedInTips

📊 Self-employment is on the rise, with 10.1% of the workforce now freelancing or owning their own business. A report from TollFreeForwarding.com highlights the top careers for self-employed individuals, showcasing high self-employment rates and strong growth projections. Jobs like taxi drivers, couriers, exercise physiologists, and creative roles like photographers and writers are leading the pack. These fields offer flexibility, work-life balance, and the ability to set your own schedule. Millennials and Gen Z are at the forefront of this shift, taking advantage of technology to thrive in remote and freelance work. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gPE2-Qed https://lnkd.in/giAHducB #SelfEmployment #FreelanceCareers #SmallBusiness #WorkFromHome #EntrepreneurLife #FlexibleJobs #WorkLifeBalance #CreativeCareers #RemoteWork #Freelancer #BusinessOpportunities #CareerGrowth #MillennialWorkers #TechDrivenCareers #JobFlexibility

Entrepreneurs be like: 💸 "I paid for it, why isn't it working?" 😭 Spoiler: a fancy website ain't a magic wand. ✨ You gotta do the market research, know your customer, and nail that offer! 🎯 Stop chasing silver bullets and start building a solid foundation. Who else felt this? Share if you agree! #entrepreneurship #marketing #business #realtalk