Category: Small Businesses

Late Payments Strain WA Small Businesses in Pandemic

Late payments are adding to the financial strain on West Australian small businesses from the COVID-19 pandemic, a report has found. The Bankwest Curtin Economic Centre report found more than a third of small businesses reported revenue losses last year. But optimism is considerably higher for 2021, with roughly the same number of firms expecting…


California Rolls Out Second Round of Funding for Struggling Businesses 

Eligible small businesses and nonprofits in Orange County will be able to apply for a second round of grants through the state’s California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. Applications opened Feb. 2 and will be available through Feb. 8 until 6 p.m. This second round of grant funding ranges from $5,000 to $25,000 for businesses impacted by the COVID-19…


State Agency Hits Non-Compliant Restaurants With Warnings, Fines

Orange County officials might not be cracking down on local restaurants defying state health orders, but that doesn’t mean the eateries are off the hook. California’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has been penalizing non-compliant restaurants since July, and has cited 19 Orange County businesses for violating state health orders. It has issued several…


Orange County Politicians Pushing for $2.6 Billion in Small Business, Nonprofit, Aid

Irvine, Cali.—Local politicians are among those lobbying for the distribution of $2.6 billion in grants to pandemic-affected small businesses and non-profit organizations through the Keep California Working Act. The bill would establish the Keep California Working Grant Program, and will see the state earmark 10 percent of its projected surplus to California’s Office of the…


Small Businesses Feeling the Pinch of Credit Card Fees as E-Commerce Ramps Up

OTTAWA—Industry groups say small businesses are being hammered by high credit card fees on online purchases as the shift toward e-commerce continues. Visa and MasterCard reduced the fees they collect from businesses to an average annual rate of 1.4 percent from 1.5 percent starting last year, but trade organizations say the fees remain higher than…


California’s Minimum Wage Raised to $14 per Hour

Minimum wage in California has been increased to $14 per hour, as new business and labor laws come into effect Friday. The change applies to businesses that have 26 or more employees. Businesses with 25 or fewer employees are required to increase the minimum wage to $13 an hour. Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a…