As consumer spending flattens, issuers and networks are competing for SMB and corporate spending for growth.

Sluggish fixed point-of-sale (POS) terminal sales are forcing providers to rethink their strategies. From adding softPOS capabilities to adding AI tools and vertical-specific offerings, POS software is becoming the real competitive battleground.

LinkedIn released a report on the trends shaping small businesses in 2026, proving that technology, trust, and relationship building will be the pillars of success for small businesses in the years ahead. Despite the unique roadblocks small businesses face amid current macroeconomic conditions, success is possible for those who stay on top of emerging technologies, invest in their digital presence, and build professional relationships.

US small businesses largely missed out on the record Big Five shopping, per a Fiserv press release. Issuers and payment providers should look to boost their local merchants’ sales and consumers’ spending by making it easier to shop small. Local neighborhood networks like Square Neighborhood and Bilt’s local deals can encourage SMB spending in consumers’ stomping grounds. Integrated BNPL offers may also entice spending from young consumers who are adverse to the perceived risks of revolving credit or are locked out from traditional lines.

Visa and Mastercard reached a settlement with merchants to lower interchange fees in the US, ending a 20-year battle in the courts, per SEC filings. The networks will lower their average effective interchange rate by 0.1 percentage point for five years and cap standard US credit rates at 125 basis points. Small businesses trying to maximize their bottom lines by declining premium cards need to incentivize their consumers to switch to a compatible payment method. Offering discounts or loyalty programs contingent on standard credit cards, debit, or cash can help mitigate dissatisfaction while changing their consumers’ payment behavior patterns.

Wells Fargo is focusing on banking for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs)—with a strong emphasis on customer experience and satisfaction, per Banking Dive. The problem with small business banking is that it’s about banking. Banks have a worsening record of making these banking relationships commerce-driven, in which they also offer merchant services and therefore struggle to deepen day-to-day propositions.

Amazon sellers using sponsored product ads now have access to Amazon’s Marketing Cloud clean room. Amazon’s expanded access to its clean room solution will enable SMBs to measure and optimize campaigns with the same sophistication as enterprise advertisers while allowing the ad giant to accelerate its push against larger rivals.

Fiserv acquired CardFree, expanding Clover’s hospitality offerings for merchants, per a press release. The payoff from Fiserv’s recent acquisitions in Europe, like AIB Merchant Services, will take some time to materialize in earnings. If Fiserv can integrate CardFree’s offerings in Clover before it rolls out in Europe, it might get the momentum it needs to thwart more dismal investor reactions for a later earnings release.

The news: Small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners are preparing for a recession—and marketing is first on the chopping block, per a report from Clarify Capital. 28% of SMB owners say cutting marketing or ad spending is the first action they’ll take in the event of a recession—higher than any other category. Our take: Preparing for a recession is a necessity for SMBs that will be hit the hardest, but for those that deem reduced marketing budgets as a core strategy, it’s critical to take an approach that will save costs without sacrificing reach.

This follows a longer-term strategy of focusing its operations.

Despite small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) accounting for 44% of US GDP according to the US Small Business Administration, many marketers aren't allocating sufficient resources to reach this powerful segment.

The company’s acquisition spree could help accelerate growth despite an uncertain economic climate

Snapchat reimagines its Partner Program for SMBs: The changes will see the program split into two tiers, with features to help SMBs advertise.

The expense management platform can help Amex appeal to small businesses that want all-in-one offerings

About one-third of US small businesses charge customers to accept card payments. Bigger retailers doing the same could hurt issuers

The expanded partnership boosts merchant acceptance for both Fastlane and Pay with Venmo

US digital commerce platforms will process $471.37 billion of their own payments by 2026. As a result, they’ll enjoy stronger customer relationships, added revenues, and cross-sell synergy.

But the company also has plans to cut costs, which will include layoffs