Q2 Business Cash Flow Trend Report from OnDeck and Ocrolus

Small businesses across the U.S. are showing remarkable resilience in 2025. According to the latest Small Business Cash Flow Trend Report from OnDeck and Ocrolus, owners remain broadly optimistic about their growth prospects even as inflation, access to capital, and day-to-day cash flow remain top concerns. The report, which combines survey insights with cash flow data from millions of applications, provides a revealing snapshot of how entrepreneurs are adapting, innovating, and financing their businesses in a shifting economic landscape.

Data Sources

The findings draw from two key inputs:

1. Survey responses from 410 small business clients of OnDeck, typically firms with fewer than 30 employees and less than $10 million in annual revenue, collected June 17–30, 2025.

2. Cash flow analytics from Ocrolus, based on aggregated data from more than 2.9 million small business funding applications over a 15-month period.

OnDeck and Ocrolus Q2 Report

Top Ten Highlights from the Q2 2025 Report

1. Strong Growth Optimism – 92% of owners expect moderate to significant growth in the next year, with 26% anticipating significant expansion.

2. Newer Businesses Lead the Way – Companies operating five years or less are the most confident, with 98% predicting growth.

3. Non-Bank Lenders Dominate – 72% of respondents say they turn to fintech and other non-bank providers over traditional banks for financing.

4. Bank Denials Extend to Older Firms – Even established companies aren’t immune; about 40% of businesses over 10 years old reported being denied credit by traditional banks.

5. Fintech Lending on the Rise – Non-bank loan inflows increased 4% year over year, while bank loan inflows fell 5%, with rural borrowers seeing steeper declines.

6. Persistent Concerns – Inflation (32%) and cash flow (31%) remain the top challenges faced by owners.

7. Thin Cash Buffers – More than 73% of small businesses have only enough reserves to cover one month of operating expenses.

8. Managing Cash Flow Creatively – Popular strategies include tapping a line of credit (59%), delaying personal or family payments (53%), and paying only minimums on credit cards (40%).

9. AI Adoption Expands – Among those using AI, two-thirds leverage it for marketing tasks, while more than one-third are applying it to strategic planning and business solutions.

10. Preparing for Tariffs – 57% are bracing for new tariffs, though most are unsure of the exact impact. Nearly a third expect to pass on added costs directly to customers.

Read the Full Report.