California’s Small Business Struggles | Fort Wayne News

Fort Wayne News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 29, 2026 · 1m

California’s small businesses are feeling the squeeze — new data reveals the Golden State ranks among the toughest places to run a shop, with a small business optimism index below the national average. While some metrics like sales and hiring plans are up, profits are down and job openings are shrinking. The biggest pain point? Overwhelming government regulation, outpacing even labor costs and inflation. Yet, California still leads in employment outlook thanks to strong hiring expectations and compensation. With small businesses powering the state’s economy, this regulatory burden could stall…