The VTA is attempting to seize properties it says are needed to construct the 28th Street/Little Portugal BART Station near the interchange of U.S. Highway 101 and East Santa Clara Street. In 2021, the VTA filed a lawsuit against the owner of the site as well as Monarch and other businesses at the location as part of an eminent domain proceeding to seize control of the property so the BART station could be constructed.
One major driver of these costs is hospital pricing abuse, which often goes unnoticed but is devastating to California's small business communities. Large hospital systems have used their market dominance to drive up the prices they charge commercial payers, often billing them more than three times what Medicare pays for the same care. Those inflated costs fall squarely on the shoulders of small businesses and working families through higher premiums and lower take-home pay.
Economic boycotts are a familiar tool of protest. The problem is they often place the greatest strain on the smallest businesses. That was the case during Friday's nationwide general strike, which was designed to pressure the Trump administration to dial back its aggressive anti-immigration policies. For many small business owners, the shutdown created a dilemma. Supporting the cause often means losing a day's revenue and risking their ability to keep staff employed. Across social media, owners voiced solidarity alongside an apology for staying open.
Over 200,000 UK small businesses now generate revenue through TikTok Shop-representing a doubling since this time last year. This surge culminated in Black Friday 2025 becoming TikTok Shop's highest-grossing day ever in UK history, with entrepreneurs selling 27 items every single second. The platform now hosts over 6,000 live shopping events daily across the UK, creating real-time revenue opportunities. Notable retailers such as Marks & Spencer, Samsung, QVC, Clarks, and Sainsbury's are now selling their wares on the site's e-commerce service.
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
When large companies require employees to end remote work and return to the office (RTO), the effects typically ripple through local economies and nearby small businesses. There can be more foot traffic and spending at restaurants, cafés, and coffee shops as office workers take lunch breaks or visit shopping districts before or after their shifts. Convenience stores, dry cleaners, food trucks, and gyms can also see an uptick, leading to improved weekday sales and a steadier cash flow.
A year after the January wildfires, most businesses in affected neighborhoods remain shuttered, with those reopened reporting roughly half their previous customer base and revenue. More than 1,800 small businesses across burn zones face an uncertain future, with owners struggling to navigate insurance claims and cleanup costs largely unsupported. Business leaders and major developers are pushing officials to speed up permitting and inspections, saying faster reconstruction is critical for jobs and tax revenue.
Small companies account for a large proportion of the workforce domestically and globally. The World Bank Group estimates small and medium enterprises constitute roughly 90% of all businesses and are responsible for more than 50% of global employment, as LinkedIn notes in its prediction. Entry-level and early-career workers also tend to make up a higher proportion of the workforce at small businesses than at larger firms.
Policy uncertainty in Westminster is weighing heavily on Britain's small business sector, according to one of the City's most influential bankers. Kunal Shah, co-head of Goldman Sachs International, warned that a lack of clarity over taxation and employment laws is creating an "overhang" that is discouraging entrepreneurs from investing and hiring. Speaking to The Times ahead of a House of Commons reception marking 15 years of Goldman's 10,000 Small Businesses programme, Shah said founders were increasingly nervous about the government's shifting regulatory agenda.
"We are very concerned at the murmurings around a potential ' taxi tax ' in the upcoming Budget," she said. "The Supreme Court confirmed this summer that long-standing business models used by private hire operators remain lawful and that VAT is not automatically required. That outcome helped protect passengers from fare increases and allowed local businesses to operate sustainably." Barke-Jones
"It was a kick in the teeth," says Katya Milavic-Davies, who owns four Myla and Davis hair salons, as well as the restaurant Llewelyn's and the cafe Lulus, both in Herne Hill in south London. She says she had to increase her turnover across her four salons by 500,000 to cover the costs of the National Insurance contribution (NICs) hikes, and a national minimum wage rise, adding that businesses like hers had been "punished" for having a large number of employees.
A new survey by Employment Hero found that 86 per cent of 1,000 business leaders are worried about what the Budget will mean for their companies, with 59 per cent saying they believe the government does not take the needs of small businesses into account when setting fiscal policy. The concern comes after employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) rose from 13.8 per cent to 15.05 per cent in April - a move that many SMEs say has already strained their finances.
With SNAP benefits disrupted, more than 40 million Americans are having a harder time than usual putting food on the table. Food banks say they're already seeing a surge in visitors, and they're sharing the things they'd most like to see donated, if you're in the position to help people in your community in need.
The case for arguing that a significant cut to the VAT registration threshold will stimulate growth is far from clear cut. A sudden, material reduction in the current £90,000 VAT threshold would bring large numbers of small businesses into the scope of quite a complicated tax. The impact of higher prices on consumer spending is likely to hit business's profitability and in turn investment and employment.
Britain's high streets face a critical moment, the Co-op has warned, as new research reveals 60,000 small shops and 150,000 jobs could disappear without urgent business rates reform. The findings, released ahead of the Autumn Budget, show around 7 in 10 UK adults (69%) lack confidence that the Government will deliver on its promise of relief for small businesses - despite repeated pledges in previous budgets.
Slow speeds can have a monumental impact on residents of London. Netflix and Amazon streaming services recommend that you have a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps, but according to the report, some areas are not accessing 30Mbit/s of service, putting them just above the minimum threshold required. Not only does this lead to buffering, but it also reduces streaming quality. Other popular online entertainment options, like gaming, can also be impacted by low speeds.
Digital tools have helped to level the playing field: 82% of small businesses attribute their revenue growth directly to digital ads, and 79% say these tools help them compete with much larger companies. Through tools like Google Ads, Business Profile and Merchant Center, we can bring the best of AI to support these businesses by streamlining their advertising efforts and helping them to stand out to customers.
The market in Pompano Beach, which once boasted 250 businesses, closed its doors for good on June 1 to make room for warehouses. Many of the longtime vendors retired. But numerous entrepreneurs gritted their teeth and decided to start over in new locations, says Caryn Deri, who moved her store, JMC Hairwear, to a small strip mall in Lighthouse Point. "Everyone kind of just dispersed wherever they could find a decent rent and a place without a parking issue, you know?"
A huge proportion of the tax gap is attributable to small businesses (60% or approx. £. Sole traders do not have to register with Companies House and it is likely that plenty fly under HMRC's radar. Even small businesses which are companies, although they need to be registered at Companies House, have significant exemptions in the level of detail that they are required to submit in terms of their accounts.
Rising costs have put immense pressure on small high street businesses, pushing many to consider closure or selling due to financial viability concerns in the next few years.
