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The state of small business
in the Mid-Atlantic

Research from WSFS reveals how small businesses across the region are navigating cost pressures, adopting AI, and planning for growth in 2026.

WSFS Bank surveyed small business owners and decision‑makers to understand the opportunities, challenges, and trends shaping businesses like yours—and what it takes to stay resilient.

92%
say business performance is meeting or exceeding expectations
81%
are already using AI in at least one business function
66%
remain optimistic about growth despite ongoing inflation and economic uncertainty

Strength, optimism—and real pressure points

Small businesses in the Mid‑Atlantic are showing real strength. Most respondents report that their business is meeting or exceeding expectations, and many are looking ahead with confidence.
That optimism, however, exists alongside meaningful challenges:

Inflation

remains the top driver of declining performance, with more than half of business owners already taking steps to cut costs.

Tariff-related uncertainty

is weighing more heavily on higher‑revenue businesses, influencing planning and investment decisions.

AI adoption

is accelerating, but not evenly. Micro businesses and those in operations more than 25 years are most likely to not have used AI in operations yet.

What business owners want from their bank

Across business size and revenue, owners are looking for more than transactional banking. They expect a partner who understands their business, moves quickly, and offers guidance when it matters most.

In an environment where costs, technology, and uncertainty intersect, the right banking relationship can make a meaningful difference.

Whether you’re planning for growth, managing through uncertainty, or evaluating new technology, the data points to something clear: the businesses that are performing best aren’t just reacting. They’re making deliberate decisions—about costs, about tools like AI, and about who they partner with.

WSFS has been supporting small businesses across Greater Philadelphia and Delaware for nearly 200 years. We understand this market—and we’re built to serve it with local decision‑making, personalized service, and the strength of a long-standing institution behind every relationship.

What this research means for your business

Explore the Insights

See how businesses like yours are responding to inflation, AI adoption, hiring pressure, and growth planning.

Read More View Press Release

Download Key Findings

Download Full Report: access the complete survey data, analysis, and methodology.

Ready to talk through what this means for your business? Connect with a WSFS Business Banker.

Disclosures

Survey methodology
WSFS Bank partnered with Opinium, a market research and insights agency, to survey 505 small business owners, CFOs, and decision-makers at companies with annual revenues up to $5 million and a minimum of two employees, located in the Mid-Atlantic region (NJ, DE, PA east of Harrisburg, MD, and Northern VA). The survey was conducted March 18–28, 2026.