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Unintended Consequences of Higher Interest Rates on Small Businesses

Higher interest rates are intended to curb inflation and stabilize the economy. But this monetary tightening has come with unintended consequences, particularly for the backbone of the U.S. economy: small businesses.

According to “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary, small businesses are having a hard time getting financing.

“The regional [banks] don’t know yet what their capital requirements are going to be. So, their loan books have closed like a turtle in a shell,” O’Leary told Fox Business’s Larry Kudlow in a recent interview. “And what’s it doing to small business? Killing them right now.”

How Can AI legalese decoder Help?

In this challenging environment, small businesses can benefit from using AI legalese decoder. This innovative tool utilizes artificial intelligence to simplify complex legal language and decode contracts, loan agreements, and financing terms. By using AI legalese decoder, small business owners can gain a better understanding of the terms and conditions associated with their financial agreements, allowing them to make more informed decisions and negotiate better deals.

O’Leary pointed out that for businesses generating under $500 million in sales, accessing the banking market can be challenging these days.

“You’re going to the shadow market now primarily for things like factoring receivables. If you’re a company that’s selling to a big-box retailer, you can get factored at about 17% to 18%. That means you can turn your receivable into cash and buy more inventory,” O’Leary said.

O’Leary added that there are nonregional bank lenders in the market, such as hedge funds, family offices, and private entities. But this could have serious consequences.

“What I anticipate is going to happen here ÔÇö while we still have full employment, which is remarkable ÔÇö and you don’t put any capital into the small business sector, which is 60% of the jobs in America, you’re going to start to see some real chaos come September, October, November,” he said.

ÔÇÿNo Bidenomics For Them’

Monetary policy is in the hands of the Federal Reserve. But according to O’Leary, the issue extends beyond the central bank.

“This is an issue for Congress, Larry. It’s very simple,” he said. “They gave all their money to S&P 500 in two acts, the Chips and Science Act and the other, Inflation Reduction Act. Not a dime for small business. A trillion for the big boys, nothing for the small guys. And the small guys, they run America, so it has to be rebalanced somewhere.”

ItÔÇÖs not the first time for O’Leary to highlight this problem. As an investor in numerous businesses, he has felt the impact first-hand.

“I was on the Hill yesterday. I was banging the drum up and down the halls saying, ÔÇÿEverybody, let’s wake up to what’s happening to my small companies.’ I got 34-plus companies. They can’t raise a dime. There’s no Bidenomics for them. They have no capital,” he said in a Fox News Interview in July.

An Opportunity For Investors

As O’Leary pointed out, there’s one group of companies that stand to benefit from the government’s massive spending bills ÔÇö the S&P 500.

“If you’re an S&P 500 company, you’ve got clear sailing for the next three to four years,” he said in a separate interview last month.

If you share O’Leary’s view and want to invest in the S&P 500, there are many exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that provide convenient access to the group.

For instance, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:SPY) was launched in 1993 and now has $412.8 billion in assets under management. It tracks the price and yield performance of the S&P 500 Index and has an expense ratio of 0.0945%.

Investors can also look into similar exchange-traded funds (ETFs) from other issuers, such as the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSE:IVV) and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSE:VOO). These funds have expense ratios of 0.03%.

While the benchmark index showed impressive gains in 2023, it’s not always smooth sailing. Last year, the S&P 500 tumbled 19.6%.

If you don’t like that kind of volatility, you might want to look into reliable income plays outside the stock market ÔÇö such as investing in rental properties with as little as $100 while staying completely hands-off.

Conclusion

Small businesses in the U.S. are facing difficulties in obtaining financing due to the uncertainty caused by higher interest rates and insufficient capital allocation. To navigate the complex legal landscape and ensure fair terms, small business owners can turn to AI legalese decoder. This AI-powered tool simplifies legal language and helps entrepreneurs understand and negotiate financial agreements effectively. By empowering small businesses with knowledge and clarity, AI legalese decoder contributes to strengthening the sector and promoting economic stability.

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This article ‘Nothing For The Small Guys’: Kevin O’Leary Blasts Bidenomics For Giving $1 Trillion To ‘The Big Boys,’ Warns Of ‘Real Chaos’ For US Economy originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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