Topic
small-business
Trade India amends FDI rules to boost e-commerce for small businesses, artisans, farmers, fishermen
India has amended its FDI regulations to facilitate large-scale e-commerce trade in handlooms, handicrafts, textiles, footwear and food products, according to Union Minister Piyush Goyal. The announcement followed the BRICS Trade and Industry Ministers' Meeting in Jaipur. Goyal said the move will benefit farmers, fishermen, small businesses and traditional sectors, and confirmed India does not support a common BRICS currency.
Logistics Small Business Shipping Trap: Going It Alone as Costs Climb From Four Sides
Small and midsize shippers are absorbing higher costs from tariffs, fuel, last-mile rates and carrier rule changes. The reflex to handle logistics in-house is the most expensive trap they fall into, according to FreightWaves. ShipStation Global CEO Tom Madine says structural freight changes mean transportation costs will stay higher for longer.
Trade Finance Rajya Sabha passes MSME Amendment Bill to speed up payments and strengthen MSMEs
The Rajya Sabha passed the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at curbing delayed payments to MSMEs. The legislation mandates central public sector enterprises to route invoice settlement through the Trade Receivables Discounting System and empowers courts to order interim payments of 50% of awarded amounts in delayed payment disputes.
Logistics UPS Unveils Digital Tools to Attract Small Businesses Amid Strategic Shift from Low-Margin E-Commerce
UPS announced new digital tools to enhance the shipping experience for small businesses, including a centralized pickup dashboard and Smart Pickups that can save up to 50% over daily pickup costs. The move supports UPS's strategy to focus on higher-margin verticals as it reduces low-margin e-commerce deliveries, with SMB package volumes growing 4.3% year-over-year in Q2 and reaching 34.5% of U.S. domestic volume in Q1.
Business For Ease of Liquidity and Business, Government to Amend MSME Act
The Government of India intends to amend the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Act to enhance liquidity and ease of doing business. The move, reported by Times of India, signals a strategic shift to support the MSME sector, which is vital for employment and economic growth. The amendment aims to address regulatory bottlenecks and improve access to finance.
Trade Tariffs on trial: Small businesses take Trump's latest trade levies back to court
Two groups of small businesses have filed lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's latest tariffs, which impose double-digit levies on imports from 60 trading partners covering 99% of US imports. The lawsuits argue the government failed to justify the measures under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and that the tariffs are effectively replacing those struck down by the Supreme Court in February.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces TikTok Live Shopping Drives £100,000 Sales in a Day for UK Seller, but Fees Bite
TikTok Shop UK sellers report massive live-streaming sales, including £100,000 in a single day for one beauty brand. However, platform fees of up to 9p per £1 sold (9%) raise cost concerns, with eBay Live offering a combined fee of up to 8.42p. Industry research shows 30% of shoppers have bought via live shopping, highlighting rapid consumer adoption.
Logistics SBTC legal battle to strip New York, California of CDL authority faces long odds, say experts
The Small Business in Transportation Coalition has filed new legal arguments to force the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to decertify New York and California's commercial driver's license programs. However, transportation experts say the unprecedented lawsuit faces long odds because the Department of Transportation has broad enforcement discretion and has never decertified a state's CDL program. If successful, the move would significantly reduce trucking capacity in two of the largest states.
Finance Indian Government Plans Amendments to Enhance MSME Liquidity and Payment Resolution
The Indian government plans to amend the MSME Development Act to enhance liquidity for micro, small and medium enterprises. Key measures include statutory backing for the Udyam registration portal, decriminalisation of provisions, and an online dispute resolution mechanism to speed up payment recoveries.
Business Stress in MSME Micro-Borrower Segment Widens as Delinquencies Rise, Data Shows
Stress is emerging in the micro-borrower segment of India's MSME industry, particularly for loans below Rs 2 crore, with early-stage delinquencies at 2.7% in April 2026. This compares with 1.5% for small enterprises and 0.8% for medium enterprises. Hard delinquencies rose to 1.4% from 1.1% in March, suggesting defaults are hardening.
Regulations & Compliance EU's CBAM Poses Major Compliance Challenge for Indian MSMEs; Experts Seek Urgent Government Support
The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) presents significant compliance hurdles for Indian MSMEs, who lack the financial and technical capacity to meet reporting requirements. Experts at the PHDCCI Carbon Shift India 2026 conference urged government support, including monitoring technologies and export diversification to Africa and other regions.
Trade Finance Demystifying Factoring: How It Can Become a Real Business Tool for Carriers
Factoring is often misunderstood by carriers, seen as costly or confusing. Summar Financial advocates for transparency and offers Summar Shield to protect eligible invoices beyond 90 days. Carriers should ask key questions about non-recourse coverage to avoid surprises.
Trade Finance Payment Delays Strain MSME Working Capital, Report Highlights Structural Gap
The Indian SME Receivables Report 2026 by Recordent reveals that delayed payments are severely straining MSME working capital, with average overdue receivables beyond 360 days at Rs 3.8 crore per firm and a national invoice payment cycle of 73 days, far exceeding regulatory guidelines of 45 days. The report, based on data from 1.1 lakh MSMEs and over 1 million transactions, identifies late payments as a key constraint on liquidity, growth, and financial stability.
Finance How carriers can scale with Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses program
Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Small Businesses program provides free business education and capital access to small trucking companies. The 12-week curriculum helps owner-operators move beyond operational bottlenecks, while a network of lenders offers average loans of $52,000. Alumni data shows 66% report increased revenue six months after graduation, rising to 74% by 30 months.
Business As More US Business Owners Retire, Many Are Selling Up to Their Staff in Employee Ownership Deals
A wave of baby boomer retirements is prompting US business owners to sell their companies to employees, rather than to outside buyers. The trend is supported by rising investment funds and research showing employee-owned firms are more productive and pay higher wages. Examples include Softstar Shoes in Oregon and Stockwell Elastomerics in Philadelphia.
Supply Chain Long Beach Port Awards $54M in Small Business Contracts, Exceeding Goals
The Port of Long Beach awarded $54.4 million in services and materials contracts to small businesses in the 2025 fiscal year, achieving a 44.6% utilization rate — well above its 27% goal. The port's Small Business Enterprise Program, one of the most ambitious among California ports, is designed to prepare local firms for the port's plan to double cargo handling capacity to 20 million containers annually by 2050.
Logistics He Walked Away From Barber Chair for Box Truck: Lessons for Logistics Operators
Victor Newton left a 28-year barber career to become a box truck owner-operator after a YouTube headline claimed $20,000 in a month. Five years in, he discusses the 90% failure rate, the difference between truck ownership and business ownership, and niche strategies like partial loads that can change the math for small carriers.
Business Cake Sheds Face Licensing Threat Amid Growing Popularity
Cake sheds, a burgeoning trend in the UK, allow bakers to earn up to £1,000 weekly. However, potential licensing regulations could threaten this business model, impacting bakers like Danielle Edgington.