Small businesses are maintaining strong momentum in 2026, with sustained confidence in growth, increasing use of AI and continued reliance on flexible financing options, according to the latest Small Business Cash Flow Trend Report from OnDeck, a market leader in small business lending, and Ocrolus, an AI workflow and cash flow analytics platform for lenders.

Key findings include:

• Growth Expectations. Small business optimism remains high, with 93% of businesses expecting growth in the next year and 32% expecting significant growth — a survey all-time high.
• Top Challenges. Cash flow emerged as the top concern for small business owners (31%) for the first time, surpassing inflation (29%).
• Lender Preference. Over 76% of small businesses report bypassing traditional banks for capital, a survey all-time high.
• 2026 Planning Strategies. Access to credit was the leading factor shaping small business strategy (46%), followed by consumer spending (42%) and interest rates (35%), while external macro risks such as trade policy (14%) ranked lower in Q1 — consistent with previous quarters.
• AI Adoption. Fifty-eight percent of small businesses report using AI, continuing the steady upward trend seen in 2025, with 89% of users reporting a positive impact on their business.

"Small businesses aren't slowing down — they're planning ahead, investing in growth and finding new ways to operate more efficiently. At OnDeck, we're focused on helping them access the capital they need to keep that momentum going," said Cory Kampfer, Co-President of Small Business Lending at Enova.

"Small businesses are showing a high level of adaptability as they move through 2026," said David Snitkof, General Manager of Small Business at Ocrolus. "Whether it's adjusting pricing, exploring new suppliers, or leveraging AI, owners are making deliberate choices supported by better data and clearer visibility into their financial performance."

The report is based on responses from 651 small businesses with working capital loans and over 3.69 million small business applications for working capital financing during the past 15 months. The nationwide survey was completed between March 4–10, 2026. For more information and complete survey results, please visit ondeck.com/small-business-trends.