Fora Financial Survey Finds Tariffs, Cash Strain Rising as AI Adoption Drives Growth Expectations

New updates have been reported about Fora Financial.

Fora Financial is placing itself at the center of the small-business credit conversation with its 2026 Business Insights Trends Report, which shows most U.S. business owners are grappling with tariffs and cash flow pressure yet still expect growth. According to the company’s survey, 73% of respondents report that tariff and trade policies are impacting operations, with higher supply costs and margin compression pushing 40% of firms to raise prices.

For a lender that has deployed more than $5 billion to over 55,000 businesses, these findings underscore continued demand for working capital solutions, as 55% of owners cite cash flow as their top challenge and 38% have recently sought extra funding to manage rising costs and inflation. The report also highlights a widening performance gap tied to artificial intelligence, with businesses expecting strong growth more than three times as likely to be using AI tools, while overall AI adoption stands at 39%, mainly in marketing, data analysis, and customer service; CEO Jared Feldman notes that steady optimism—76% expect revenue growth—combined with uneven AI uptake signals where competitive dynamics, and thus future financing needs, are likely to shift, informing Fora Financial’s market positioning and product strategy.