What’s Next For U.S. Small Businesses And Entrepreneurs?
Starting June 1, new SBA rules will make it harder to get a loan just as aging boomers are expected to flood the market with businesses for sale. That could make it tougher for some owners to cash out, or a golden opportunity for millennial or Gen Z buyers. Add in on-again, off-again tariffs, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable times in recent memory for small business owners and anyone dreaming of being their own boss. Join us May 28th at 12 PM EST for a timely and thought-provoking panel with live audience Q&A on what’s next for small businesses.
Attend and learn all about:
- How the upcoming SBA changes may affect loan eligibility, underwriting standards and procedures
- Impact of tariffs on increased costs of goods, price increases for customers, supply chain and inventory, access to capital and more
- How to make the most of the “Silver Tsunami,” or generational shift, as millions of boomer-owned businesses are up for sale
- Potential opportunities as a small business owner and what you should be doing right now
SPEAKERS
Brandon Kochkodin is a staff writer who covers all things small business strategy. Before joining Forbes Brandon worked as a reporter and editor at Bloomberg for seven years where he covered everything from sports to how negative rates impacted the Black-Scholes model. He joined Forbes in 2022 to cover financial markets. Forbes reporters follow company ethical guidelines that ensure the highest quality.
Rand Larsen is an acquisition entrepreneur and community builder. He launched SMB Community in 2023—an online peer network for small business owners—and completed his first acquisition in April 2025, acquiring another peer group called ScalePath. Today, he supports nearly 100 members, the majority of whom are entrepreneurs who have acquired their businesses.
Kristin Bear is the Founder and Creative Director of Kilo Brava, the #1 best-selling creative and sleepwear brand for boutiques across the U.S. Known for its bold prints and inclusive designs, Kilo Brava is carried by major retailers like Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Free People, as well as hundreds of independent boutiques in the U.S. and Canada. Kristin also owns and operates Bambola, a Sarasota storefront featuring Kilo Brava and other women-owned lingerie and sleepwear brands.
Ray Drew is a top-producing SBA Lender and the Host of #1 Podcast in the SBA Industry: The Art of SBA Lending. Ray has dedicated his entire professional career to helping small business owners level-up using SBA 7(a) loans. Ray is Managing Director of Truliant Federal Credit Union’s national SBA 7a loan program.
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