Small businesses face tighter credit, complex exits
Rising rates and geopolitical uncertainty have pushed borrowing costs higher and amplified exit/succession planning needs—advisors are being asked to marry business strategy with personal wealth planning more often. Co‑hosted events with CPAs and attorneys are a recurring suggestion to surface these owners and referrals. (forbes.com)
Traders pushed the market-implied odds of a Federal Reserve rate increase in 2026 above 50%—the CME FedWatch tool showed a 52% probability as of March 27, 2026. (cnbc.com) The Federal Open Market Committee left the target federal funds rate at 3.50%–3.75% in its latest meeting, with coverage noting a divided vote amid oil-driven inflation concerns. (thestreet.com) Bank-sourced small-business loan pricing in March 2026 ranged roughly from 6.3% to 11.5% depending on lender and product, widening the interest-cost gap for owner-operators seeking working capital. (nerdwallet.com) SBA-guaranteed lending closed fiscal 2025 with about $44.8 billion in guarantees and a majority of 7(a) loans under $150,000, indicating persistent small-dollar demand even as rates climb. (fundwell.com) The Federal Reserve’s 2025 Small Business Credit Survey collected responses from about 6,525 employer firms and reported that firms’ expectations for revenue and employment growth fell to their lowest levels since 2020. (americassbdc.org) Fed “Firms in Focus” chartbooks document measurable disparities in financing outcomes by race and ethnicity, underscoring uneven access to capital across owner demographics. (fedsmallbusiness.org) Industry analyses project a generational transfer of business ownership worth roughly $10 trillion and covering about 12 million privately owned firms over the coming decade, while exit-readiness studies show a large share of owners lack formal succession plans (Exit Planning Institute data on owner readiness). (headwayexec.com) Professional outlets and advisor-marketing guides recommend co‑presented educational events and joint webinars with CPAs and business attorneys—CPA Practice Advisor and advisor-marketing firms cite joint CPE/CLE‑style seminars and co-hosted webinars as repeatable referral generators. (cpapracticeadvisor.com)
