The Small Business Administration is offering up to $2 million in low-interest disaster loans to Los Angeles businesses affected by recent wildfires, which have caused an estimated $150 billion in damages. These loans are available for both physical damage and economic injury. They can be accessed by businesses directly impacted by the fires and indirectly affected, such as suppliers.

Customer acquisition is essential for small business growth and profitability but can be expensive and time-consuming. A well-planned marketing strategy is crucial to attract new customers, increase brand awareness and diversify the customer base to minimize risk during economic downturns.

Social commerce sales are projected to exceed $2 trillion this year, highlighting the importance of platforms such as Instagram in ecommerce and the value of data from social commerce for product development, customer service and cross-channel integration. Social commerce data offers a feedback loop that allows brands to optimize product offerings and test new products with influencers, facilitating rapid product refinement and meeting consumer preferences.

Business credit cards offer significant benefits, including rewards programs like cash back and travel points, which can be tailored to meet specific business needs. These cards often feature no annual fees or introductory 0% APR offers, making them attractive options for cost-conscious entrepreneurs. However, potential downsides include overuse, surcharges and late fees.

American consumers expect inflation to rise significantly over the next year and beyond, with the University of Michigan's survey showing one-year inflation expectations jumping to 3.3% in January. Concerns over potential tariffs and Trump-era economic policies, coupled with a strong labor market, are driving inflation fears and dampening consumer sentiment, while economists expect the Federal Reserve to keep rates steady.

Microsoft Teams has introduced a live chat widget for small businesses on Microsoft 365 Business plans, allowing direct customer engagement from websites. The widget, configurable via the Microsoft Teams Admin App, enables contact information collection, case assignment and real-time support.

Sales and customer relationship management are distinct yet complementary functions that are crucial for small-business growth. CRM focuses on building meaningful connections, while sales convert opportunities into revenue, according to Alykhan Jetha, founder of Marketcircle. "Think of it like having a dinner party, where you wouldn't hand your guests a menu and take their order but rather extend just the kind of hospitality that makes them want to be invited over again and again," writes Jetha.

Physicists have proposed the mathematical possibility of a third type of particle, paraparticles, which could exist alongside fermions and bosons. This discovery, published in Nature, suggests that these particles might behave like anyons in a three-dimensional universe, challenging the current understanding of the Standard Model.