NFIB Weekly NewsLeading the News Small Business Challenges FinCEN’s Unlawful Real Estate Rule (08/10/2026)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 10, 2026) – NFIB filed an amicus brief in the case Fidelity National Financial, Inc, et al. v. U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. The case questions the legality of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s (FinCEN) Residential Real Estate Rule, which requires more than 800,000 non-financed real estate transactions to be reported each year.
Amicus Brief Outlines the Significance of Article III Courts for Small Businesses (08/04/2026)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 4, 2026) – NFIB filed an amicus brief in the case Department of Labor, et al. v. Sun Valley Orchards, LLC at the United States Supreme Court. The case concerns the pivotal distinction between having cases adjudicated by Article III courts, as outlined in the Constitution, or by regulatory bodies.
NFIB Urges U.S. Senate Committee to Reject Significant Changes to Healthcare Legislation That Would Harm Small Businesses (07/22/2026)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 22, 2026) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, sent a letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) raising concerns with HELP Committee changes to S. 2355, the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act.
NFIB Names Elizabeth Parks Vice President of Federal Government Relations and Grassroots (07/07/2026)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 7, 2026) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, today announced the promotion of Elizabeth Parks to Vice President of Federal Government Relations and Grassroots.
Small Businesses Express Disappointment Following Missed Opportunity in NDAA (06/30/2026)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 30, 2026) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, expressed disappointment in the failure to adopt an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (NDAA’27) to exempt American small businesses from the beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting mandate.
NFIB Members Bring Small Business Agenda Directly to Washington Policymakers (06/11/2026)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 11, 2026) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, hosted its annual Washington, D.C. Fly-In this week on Capitol Hill. Small business owners met with Trump Administration officials, Congressional leadership, and dozens of lawmakers on several critical issues, including:
Business Climate NEW NFIB SURVEY: Small Business Optimism Continues to Rise (08/11/2026)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 11, 2026) – The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 2.4 points in July to 99.8, rising above its 52-year average of 98.0. This marks the highest level since August 2025. Of the 10 Optimism Index components, eight increased, and two decreased. Hiring plans improved substantially and contributed most to the rise in the Index. Real sales expectations and reports of inventory levels as “too low” both fell by 2 points. The Uncertainty Index rose 2 points from June to 91, remaining well above its historical average of 68. The rise was driven by an increase in owners reporting uncertainty about whether it is a good time to expand and capital expenditure plans.
NFIB Jobs Report: Boost in Demand for Workers, Labor Quality (08/10/2026)
“Hiring plans suggest that small business owners are expecting a surge in business”
HELENA, Mont., August 6, 2026—The monthly Jobs Report from NFIB, released today, showed a “surprising and substantial tightening of the labor market” as “reports of labor quality and availability as the most serious business problem jumped 8 points to 27%.”
Small Businesses Support Healthcare Flexibility (07/29/2026)
Healthcare affordability has been one of the biggest challenges small business owners have faced for decades. As costs continue to increase, small businesses are often left with few options and the difficult choice of continuing to operate their business or providing a healthcare plan for their employees.
NEW NFIB SURVEY: Small Business Optimism Picks Up in June (07/14/2026)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 14, 2026) – The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 2.1 points in June to 97.4, nearing its 52-year average of 98.0. Expectations for better business conditions and real sales expectations improved substantially and primarily drove the rise in the Index. The Uncertainty Index fell 2 points from May to 89, remaining well above its historical average of 68.
NEW NFIB SURVEY: Small Businesses Report Reduced Optimism (06/09/2026)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 9, 2026) – The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 0.6 points in May to 95.3, remaining below its 52-year average of 98.0. The Uncertainty Index rose 3 points from April to 91, remaining well above its historical average of 68.
As reported in NFIB’s monthly Jobs Report, the NFIB Small Business Employment Index remained essentially flat, registering 100.3 in May. The current reading is below the 2025 average of 101.2 but still slightly above the historical average of 100.0. In May, a seasonally adjusted 29% of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in May, down 5 points from April and marking the lowest level since May 2020.
New NFIB Industry-Specific Survey Shows Shift in Small Business Optimism (05/27/2026)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 27, 2026) – The NFIB Research Center released an industry-specific quarterly Small Business Economic Trends survey highlighting the construction, manufacturing, retail, and services industries. According to the report, the Optimism Index for all four reported industries fell from the prior quarter. The components that contributed most to the decline were expectations for better business conditions, real sales expectations, and reports that it is a good time to expand.
Wages and Benefits NFIB Jobs Report: Small Business Employment Index Picks Back Up (08/06/2026)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 6, 2026) – NFIB’s July Jobs Report shows that the Small Business Employment Index rose after four consecutive months of decline, registering 102.1 in July after measuring 100.2 in June. The current reading is above the 2025 average of 101.2 and the historical average of 100.0.
NFIB sent a letter in support of H.R. 8324, the Great American Healthcare Plan (07/21/2026)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 21, 2026) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, sent a letter to Representative Eric Burlison (MO-07) in support of H.R. 8324, the Great American Healthcare Plan, which would expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and give greater flexibility to small businesses to offer health coverage to their employees.
NFIB Jobs Report: Small Business Job Openings Rebound (07/02/2026)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 2, 2026) – NFIB’s June Jobs Report shows that the Small Business Employment Index remained essentially flat, registering 100.2 in June after measuring 100.3 in May. This is the fourth consecutive month the Index declined. The current reading is below the 2025 average of 101.2 but still slightly above the historical average of 100.0.
Best Hiring Practices for Small Business (06/29/2026)
The NFIB Small Business Legal Center blog provides tips and resources to stay informed on legal and regulatory issues impacting small businesses. Learn about important potential changes and best practices to ensure hiring workers for your small business remains in compliance with federal laws and regulations.
Employment Law Changes Small Businesses Should Know (05/15/2026)
Small business owners need to be prepared to protect their business from a variety of employment law issues, including employee lawsuits, overtime pay, paid leave, and much more. Legal experts on the Small Business Rundown break down important questions from small business owners and discuss strategies businesses can utilize to protect themselves from costly lawsuits and penalties.
OSHA Heat Safety Rules for Small Businesses and Steps to Protect Your Workers (05/08/2026)
Whether your employees work inside or out, heat-related illness is a serious risk that can lead to legal and financial consequences for your business. As the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ramps up its focus on workplace heat safety, small business owners should take steps to ensure compliance.
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