Small business news summaries
Essential facts and source links for recent small business stories.
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Survey: 54% of companies have reduced or plan to reduce compensation to fund AI in 2026
Resume Builder surveyed 866 US business leaders: 54% said their companies have cut or plan to cut employee compensation for AI spending in 2026, while 71% said they will give performance-based raises. The article offers five ways to seek a raise. -
New Jersey showroom brings Watches of Switzerland and Mayors together
Watches of Switzerland Group has opened its first joint showroom for Watches of Switzerland and Mayors in Marlton, New Jersey. The 4,505-square-foot store opened September 25 and is Mayors’ first location outside Florida and Georgia. -
Cracker Barrel plans menu price hikes of at least 3% in 2027
Cracker Barrel plans menu price increases of at least 3% in 2027 to offset inflation. CEO Dave Deno said hikes need to be strategic, not universal; the chain cited its daily $7.99 Sunrise Pancake Special and weekday early dining from $8.99 as affordable options. -
Grocery chains invest in store brands as shoppers look beyond price
FMI says 94% of U.S. grocery shoppers would keep buying private-label products even if prices fall, and nearly half increased purchases over the past year. Walmart, Kroger, Costco and Aldi are investing in store brands to compete on more than price. -
Three retirement-planning gaps may make another year at work worth considering
The Motley Fool says people considering retirement may want to work at least another year if they lack a health-coverage plan before Medicare eligibility, are unsure when to claim Social Security, or have no plan for how to spend their free time. -
Age 65 may be a middle ground for claiming Social Security
The Motley Fool says 65 may suit people needing income sooner, coordinating retirement with Medicare, or concerned about health and longevity. For those born in 1960 or later, claiming then brings a monthly benefit 13.3% below the full-retirement amount at 67. -
Fewer small and midsize retailers use self-checkout as tech investment continues
The share of small and midsize retailers using self-checkout fell to 36% in 2026 from 43% in 2025, a Toast survey found. Retailers cited theft and inefficiency; shoppers complained about self-scanning and monitoring. 75% said they would keep investing heavily in other technology. -
A hypothetical $2.7 million inheritance raises trust questions over addiction
In a hypothetical example, Leah worries that her sister Kara, who has struggled with substance abuse, may mishandle their parents’ $2.7 million estate. The article says to check for a trust; court oversight is a last resort requiring proof Kara cannot manage her affairs. -
Pet trusts can earmark care funds; an estimated 44% of pet owners have post-death plans
An estimated 44% of pet owners have made plans for their animals after death. Pyle, Dellinger & Naylor says pets cannot inherit directly; a pet trust lets a trustee manage care funds under written instructions while a designated caregiver takes the animal. -
Scott Curran says workplace purpose and allyship can help retain talent
Social-impact lawyer and Beyond Advisors CEO Scott M. Curran says companies can strengthen workplace culture and retain talent by connecting purpose to meaningful action and employee allyship. He argues that purpose-led cultures can also support business performance. -
Sonic’s former CEO says customer needs should guide technology
Former Sonic CEO Clifford Hudson says technology should serve customers. He cited card readers: credit-card sales rose from 5% to 55% of total sales, and he said card sales accounted for all Sonic revenue growth, from nearly $2 billion to $4.5 billion over 15 years. -
Disney World’s new hires discover Mickey ears inside red boxes
Disney World’s new cast members start at Disney University with Traditions, a five-part program on company history, guest service and values. On day one, they open a red box of Mickey ears, observe Magic Kingdom workers and receive name tags from Mickey Mouse. -
Therapists differ on canceling first-class honeymoon flights after a stepson cuts contact
In Moneywise’s hypothetical, a father and stepmother weigh canceling a stepson's first-class honeymoon flights after he cuts off contact. Therapists differ: one says canceling can respect his boundary; others warn it may look retaliatory and worsen the rift. -
Without a plan, state law could direct a $3 million estate to distant relatives
Moneywise considers a 65-year-old with $3 million and no partner, children or close family. Without a plan, assets lacking beneficiaries could go to distant relatives under state law—or to the state if there are no heirs. Assets with named beneficiaries pass outside probate. -
Therapists explain why a friend’s pricey treats can fuel resentment
Therapists say it can be normal to resent a wealthier friend who repeatedly pays for expensive meals and outings, even when the gifts are appreciated. They advise identifying the source of the discomfort and talking about lower-cost ways to spend time together. -
Costco ends Next marketplace, plans to integrate top items in app and site
Costco ended its Costco Next marketplace in September, CFO Gary Millerchip said, aiming to bring its most popular brands and items into the app and website for a better member experience and higher sales. He said the change is not material to results. -
Lauren and Steven Keys say low spending helped them leave full-time work before 30
Lauren and Steven Keys say they left full-time work before 30 after keeping spending below $22,000 a year for several years and investing about half their income. Their net worth topped $1 million in December 2023; businesses and rental income cover their costs. -
Starbucks plans to close 250 North American coffeehouses this week
Starbucks plans to close 250 North American coffeehouses later this week, saying some cannot consistently deliver its desired customer and employee experience or lack a path to acceptable financial performance. The closures are about 1% of over 18,000 North American stores. -
Tahoe Joe’s Visalia closure leaves just two locations open
Tahoe Joe’s closed its Visalia, Calif., site Sept. 21; only its Fresno and Bakersfield restaurants remain. An employee told KSEE she and more than 30 workers received no advance notice; a regional director cited the chain’s failure to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. -
Bloomingdale’s pairs with Ritz-Carlton for a hotel-inspired NYC store experience
Bloomingdale’s has partnered with The Ritz-Carlton on Hotel Bloomingdale’s, an immersive shopping experience at its New York 59th Street flagship through Oct. 19, 2026. It combines fashion, beauty, wellness, home and travel offerings in an effort to bring shoppers into stores. -
Frugal Fannie's begins last-store liquidation after 43 years
Frugal Fannie's, a discount women's clothing chain, is closing its last store after 43 years. Its liquidation sale began Sept. 24 at the original Westwood, Massachusetts, location; owners cited health considerations, key staff retirements and a lease with no renewal option. -
A layoff near 60 can mean a tougher job hunt and difficult retirement choices
Workers laid off near 60 may face age-related hiring barriers and struggle to retire comfortably. Claiming Social Security at 62 means a permanent 30% cut versus age 67; Medicare starts at 65. The article urges checking finances before major decisions. -
Leslie Friday says a $17 garden-center job helped her through a layoff
Laid off from a senior content role in June 2025, Leslie Friday took a $17-an-hour garden-center job as unemployment benefits ended and severance dwindled. She said it reset her mind; later, she became a health nonprofit communications director and kept some Sunday shifts. -
Birthday hosts should not charge guests for drinks, etiquette experts say
Etiquette experts say birthday hosts should not ask guests to pay for food or drinks. In a hypothetical 50th-birthday scenario, a woman’s sister asks each invitee for $90 toward the open bar; guests uncomfortable with the charge may politely decline. -
LongHorn's comparable sales rise 6.8%, topping Olive Garden's 1%
LongHorn Steakhouse's comparable sales rose 6.8% in Darden's fiscal first quarter, versus 1% at Olive Garden and 3.2% companywide. KPMG's summer 2026 survey found 67% of Americans ate at home more often; 76% of that group blamed budget constraints. -
An app-based list suggests 64 California Starbucks stores may close
Starbucks plans to close 250 stores across the U.S. and Canada in the coming days; an unconfirmed app-based list identifies 64 California locations. Starbucks declined to confirm the list, which names no locations in San Francisco proper. -
ALDI to launch seven fresh meals, with singles under $8 and family options under $15
ALDI says its first seven fresh, ready-made meals will roll out in select U.S. markets in early October, reaching stores nationwide by January 2027. Five single-serve meals will cost under $8, and two family-size options will be under $15. -
KFC tests breakfast and tableside service at McKinney concept site
KFC is testing breakfast and tableside service at its new Open House concept restaurant in McKinney, a Dallas suburb, which opens Saturday. The morning menu includes breakfast sandwiches, chicken tenders, hash brown sticks, mini cronuts, hot coffee and iced lattes.
