Resource Center
Burnout, branding, and tips for building a profitable business
MIDNIGHT OIL EDITION 318
RESOURCES & TIPS How to build a multimillion-dollar business How did a mom with no food industry experience build a small frozen foods company into a $100M success in under five years? In our latest episode of “C-Suite to Main Street,” Gail Becker, founder of CAULIPOWER, shares how personal drive, savvy marketing, and resilience helped her spot the ‘idea waiting in plain sight’ and create a buzzworthy brand. Discover her insights on leading through crisis and the practical advice she wished she knew when she was first getting started.
QUIZ: Is it time to launch your business? Embarking upon a new venture requires careful planning beyond just a great idea. Take our quick 10-question quiz to assess your preparedness and ensure a strong foundation for success!
Don’t let burnout get you down Being a small business owner often means non-stop work, putting you at high risk for burnout, but don’t let the demands compromise your health or decisions. Explore four practical strategies to stay resilient and keep your business thriving.
A MESSAGE FROM THE U.S. CHAMBER New Report: Small Businesses Embrace AI, Fuel Growth A new Chamber Technology Engagement Center (C_TEC) report reveals that nearly 60% of small businesses now use AI, up more than double from 2023, crediting it with helping them navigate challenges and grow their workforce. While technology is necessary for operations and competitiveness, businesses share growing concerns over state AI and data privacy regulations.
Download the full Empowering Small Business Report 2025 to learn how AI is transforming small business operations and its impact.
Download the Report
QUOTABLE MOMENT
“One of the best business decisions I ever made was going old-school. I didn’t just take notes, but instead treated every piece of feedback like gold. That’s how you turn underserved markets into loyal communities: you make them feel heard, because they are.”
— Lee Evans Lee, Founder of Mrs Momma Bear, a company that offers comfortable yet stylish clothing for women, shares how to find unfulfilled market needs and use them to grow your business.
BY THE NUMBERS
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Threads burst onto the scene in 2023, rapidly accumulating tens of millions of users within five days. With competition still relatively low on this maturing platform, now is the ideal time to add it to your social media strategy — here’s how.
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More than half of shoppers quit a purchase due to payment friction, leading to lost sales, frustrated customers, and stunted potential. If your checkout process is causing friction, use these tips to simplify processes and win back your customers.
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Check out our list of 10 free accounting tools for easy invoicing, expense tracking, and top vendors offering free trials for small businesses.
GRANTS & AWARDS The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Readiness for Resiliency Program (R4R) helps small businesses put plans in place to prepare for disaster and also provides immediate emergency funding when necessary. Businesses are asked to complete a four-step process to be eligible for quick-turn relief funding of $5,000 after a state emergency order or state disaster declaration is made in their region.
The third round of the Skip $10,000 Summer Grant will award $10,000 each to eligible Skip Plus members, with over $1 million in total funding available this year. This grant supports U.S.-based entrepreneurs and small business owners aged 18 and older, regardless of business size or stage. Applications are limited, so early submissions are encouraged. Submit yours by August 27.
The Hey Helen $5k Grant offers $5,000 in unrestricted funding to support women and nonbinary entrepreneurs building mission-driven, for-profit businesses in the U.S. One founder will be selected, with a second $1,000 grant potentially awarded if over 1,000 qualified applications are received. Apply by August 29.
The IMG Leave Your Mark Grant helps fuel meaningful mission-driven and social good efforts around the world. Two organizations will each receive $3,500 to further their impact, while three individuals embarking on mission, volunteer, or service trips will be awarded $1,000 each. Submit by September 12.
Walmart Spark Good Local Grants. The Walmart Spark Good Local Grants program, provided by Walmart and Sam’s Club, offers grants ranging from $250 to $5,000 for organizations that address the unique needs of local communities. All organizations must be Deed verified and have a Spark Good account to apply. Grant applications are accepted quarterly, with the current round open until October 15.
More grant & program information can be found here.
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