FEBRUARY 2026 INDUSTRY NEWS AND TRENDS
Commercial chapter 11 filings soar in 2026
U.S. bankruptcy filing data shows that Chapter 11 filings increased 76% year over year in January 2026, with 956 businesses filing for bankruptcy that month.
The spike in bankruptcies is being driven by large corporate entities, with their filings filtering down to small-business bankruptcies filed under subchapter V of Chapter 11.
A higher number of filings is the result of companies struggling with higher costs, a tougher lending environment, and heightened geopolitical risk.
Inefficient invoicing is expensive. Here’s how to fix it.
Some business owners are pouring 3X the resources into invoicing than they need to, and it’s eroding their bottom line. Implementing better invoicing processes can reduce friction, minimize operational resources, and accelerate payment.
This article lays out six steps businesses can take to eliminate common sources of misunderstandings and payment delays.
What SMBs need to know in 2026
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released its first small business update for 2026, and its predictions suggest that the economy overall will remain strong, but not optimal. Growth is likely to hover around 2% rather than 3%, which is the point at which growth starts to lift wages and incomes. Inflation is currently lower than it was during the pandemic, but still higher than the Federal Reserve target. And while interest rates are predicted to come down, they are likely to do so very slowly.
Against this backdrop of muted growth, volatile tax and immigration policies could disrupt finances and hiring for SMBs in the year ahead.
Crackdown on SBA loan fraud impacts small business resilience
The SBA has suspended tens of thousands of business borrowers in California and Minnesota due to suspected fraud related to SBA pandemic-era loan programs.
Nearly 112,000 borrowers in California and 6,900 borrowers in Minnesota will now be prevented from accessing new small business and disaster loans and other SBA programs, including federal contracting.
The crackdown has the potential to shake up the financial markets in the U.S., preventing these businesses from accessing SBA loans and programs and reducing their options when it comes to accessing alternative financing, as the SBA is likely to be less willing to subordinate their loans.
