Ready to grow your small business in 2026? In this free webinar, SBDC Director Kelly Bearden breaks down 10 powerful opportunities you can act on right now. From strategic financial management (way beyond just keeping the books) to leveraging technology and automation, mastering pricing power, and building strategic partnerships — this webinar is packed with practical insights to help your business thrive. This marks the 376th episode of the “Webinar Wednesday” business series that provides news and information helpful to employers and business owners. The CSU Bakersfield SBDC provides free one-on-one help to small business owners. New and existing businesses can go to https://csubsbdc.com/ for more information or to sign up to meet with a business advisor at no cost.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
00:42 What’s Up Today – April 1, 2026
04:10 Poll #1 “What is the biggest fear you have holding your business back right now?
05:55 Poll #2 “What area of your business has the most untapped opportunity today?
08:47 Capital Corridor
– SBA Ownership Rule Change
– As of 3/1/2026: 100% of business ownership must be US citizens or US nationals
– No exceptions: green card holders, legal permanent residents & refugees excluded
– Even 1% non-citizen ownership disqualifies a business
– Impacts ~10-15% of current SBA borrowers; primary US residence also required
09:30 SBA Loan Programs
– SBA 7A: Guarantee loan for larger amounts, often into the millions
– SBA 504: For land and fixed assets such as buildings or heavy equipment
– Microloan: $10,000–$100,000 depending on lender
– SBA fees waived for the remainder of 2026
13:24 Alternative Funding Options
– State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI): Federal Treasury-backed programs
State Small Business Credit Initiative https://www.ibank.ca.gov/small-business/ssbci/
16:07 Veteran Home Ownership Seminar – Zero-down options for veterans
– 6–7 PM at 1120 Golden State (Kern County Veterans Services) https://www.kerncounty.com/government/veterans-service
16:47 Federal Reserve Survey – Financial Challenges in the San Joaquin Valley
– Top challenge: increased cost of goods, services & wages
– Higher loan & line of credit usage vs. national average; tariffs less of a concern locally
– AI & Business 7% are fully integrated with AI; higher partial integration than national average
22:37 March Madness – Chicago University: A team full of economists??
23:20 Economic Corner
– Dr. Evans Macroeconomic Recap
– Recession probability: 30–40% among economists
– Key issue: Strait of Hormuz supply disruption
– Sustained disruption: oil +10%, inflation 3–3.3%, household cost $430–$510/yr
– Severe shock at $142/barrel: higher inflation, costs & unemployment
Tariffs, Oil Prices & Your Small Business: What You Need to Know Right Now https://youtu.be/eJyYsL-x-Hc
26:59 What is Small Businesses FOMO? Missing Out on Opportunities
27:25 Opportunity #1: Financial Intelligence – Know your costs, margins & borrowing power
– Track KPIs, set goals & compare budget vs. actuals
– Cash flow forecasting: 13-week rolling average & 1-year month-to-month
Cash Flow Management Tools for Small Businesses https://youtu.be/mSPviFCHZ7w
30:23 Opportunity #2: Technology & Automation
– Automate financial systems; use AI for marketing & social media
– AI-enhanced scheduling using point-of-sale data improves forecasting & staffing
33:48 Opportunity #3: Customer Retention
– Retaining high-margin customers costs less than acquiring new ones
– Tools: email marketing, loyalty programs, referral systems
– CAC = total sales & marketing expenses ÷ new customers acquired
36:45 Opportunity #4: Strategic Partnerships
– Partners can act as capital sources when they have a stake in your success
– Cross-promotions, referral agreements & shared audiences
38:26 Opportunity #5: Pricing Strategies
– Value pricing: price based on value delivered, not just cost
– Avoid excessive discounting; charge for your expertise
– AI tools: margin & price sensitivity analysis; value translation for less pushback
44:17 Opportunity #6: Access to Capital
– Explore alternatives to SBA: SSBCI, FDCs, crowdfunding, invoice & PO financing
– Know your borrowing potential based on collateral, financials & credit
– Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) combines multiple rates & terms into one blended rate
45:59 Funding Options
47:21 The Opportunity Equation – Opportunity = Problem + Customer + Improvement + Data & Testing
47:55 Top 10 Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs – Review financials regularly | Focus on revenue-generating activities
– Engage customers | Improve one system at a time | Build key relationships
– Track KPIs | Keep learning | Delegate low-value tasks | Test new ideas | Plan intentionally