Small business owners across California are under serious financial pressure, with rising energy costs, high labor expenses, and a complex legal and regulatory environment cutting deeply into already thin margins. Energy bills have jumped 24%, and for industries like...
Dean Lyulkin and William Stern, Cardiff’s top leaders, recently shared their perspectives on the economic forces currently shaping business conditions across the country, from volatile oil markets to strained consumer budgets to the day-to-day realities facing...
The way small businesses get loans is shifting fast, and the changes are hitting their bottom lines. A new federal report based on surveys from all 12 Federal Reserve Banks shows that small business owners are moving away from community banks and toward online lenders...
The economic effects of the U.S.-Iran conflict are extending well beyond energy markets and into consumer lending. Rising uncertainty tied to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has contributed to higher costs across the economy, from fuel to essential goods. While...
Cardiff founder William Stern and CEO Dean Lyulkin, highlight how quickly economic conditions are shifting for small businesses and how those changes are being felt in real time. Lending markets are tightening as government-backed programs pull support from riskier...
Starting a business later in life is becoming a more common path for individuals looking to take control of their financial future. The discussion highlights a shift away from traditional career models, where people once relied on long-term employment and pensions,...
Small businesses are navigating a more difficult financial environment as credit markets continue to tighten and borrowing costs rise. Lenders are raising standards and limiting access to capital, making it harder for many businesses to secure loans or maintain...
Following the 2024 merger of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, the parent company, Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), pursued a leveraged buyout that prioritized real estate over the operation of the department stores. By borrowing heavily without maintaining the...
Cardiff is proud to share an inside look at how its founding values and leadership approach shape its work in small business financing and community building. In a recent interview, Cardiff’s founder, William Stern, recounted the company’s beginnings and...
While mainstream news outlets are warning of a possible recession and rising prices in 2026, the actual data from American small businesses tells a much more optimistic story. Instead of retreating or cutting back, local business owners are being proactive and...
