Small Business Trends to Watch in 25/26
As the business landscape evolves, small businesses must stay agile to remain competitive. This article explores five emerging trends that we expect to shape the way small businesses operate in 2025 and 2026. We discuss deeper AI integration and rising sustainability expectations as well as unpacking the shift towards a more streamlined customer experience using social media. For small business owners, staying ahead means more than just keeping up with technology—it requires aligning strategy, operations, and customer needs in a rapidly shifting market. This post outlines what to watch, why it matters, and how to take action now for smarter, more resilient growth.
- AI adoption is accelerating – Tools like ChatGPT lower start-up costs and reduce staff needs, letting small businesses compete effectively.
- Niche targeting matters – Narrow, well-defined audiences and micro-trends help maintain loyal customers and consistent sales.
- Authentic, personal brands win – Shoppers increasingly value brands that reflect the creator’s passion and originality.
- Digital-first experiences are essential – Seamless online/physical integration and social shopping (e.g. TikTok Shop) are becoming standard.
- Sustainability drives preference – Environmentally conscious practices and messaging give SMEs an edge over larger competitors.
The small business landscape is changing dramatically- the marketing trends that used to guarantee engagement are now starting to fall short. As we approach 2026, small business owners are finding both new opportunities and difficult challenges within the market. If you’re looking to scale up and increase engagement for your business, understanding where the market is headed in the next year is something important to consider. At RODA Technology, we make this process easier, advising you on which techniques and social media platforms are worth your time, helping you launch with confidence and clarity. Here, we discuss five trends you might want to think about implementing for your business which we expect to increase in popularity through 2026.
AI as a Business Tool
The use of AI has disrupted the traditional business model in a positive way, especially for small businesses. It is now easier than ever to start up with less effort and less staff. Given that sites such as ChatGPT are free to use, strategically using them to kickstart your business marketing is cost-effective and allows you to be on level ground with your competitors.
When you partner with us, we help you understand how to make the most of AI, where it can be safely used within your business, and what's just hype. We aim to save you time in the long run, and provide you with the tools needed to feel comfortable using AI-based platforms.
Finding your Niche
In an increasingly saturated market, latching on to micro-trends and narrowing down your niche can be the key to maintaining regular customers and ensuring your product is performing as intended. This is something we can help with, curating your business profile and allowing you to make informed decisions surrounding your target audience.
Defining your audience clearly is the first step to success. The more specifically catered your products are, the more likely people are to come back to your website and purchase your items. When you work with us, you can expect a trusted partner dedicated to scaling your business according to your niche whilst keeping close your core values.
Personalisation of your Brand
With so many huge brands dominating the centre of the e-commerce world, we’re seeing a shift in what customers want; a brand that feels deeply personal to its creator, as well as a product that feels original. Having a strong brand voice is something to really think about when discussing brand expansion.
At RODA, we use our expertise to help you re-focus and build a brand reflective of your passion and experience, making it easier to platform sales growth.
Digital-First Customer Experience
It’s common knowledge that a cohesive website is an essential as a small business. However, the key within the next year is going to be a focus on seamlessness between online and physical stores, as well as the utilisation of social media for shopping itself. Small businesses aiming to target Gen Z are thriving on platforms such as TikTok, especially since their addition of the ‘Shop’ section, which allows customers to purchase items through the platform itself rather than being redirected to a traditional shopping site.
We can help you get set up with Shopify, TikTok Shop, and Instagram, getting your products in front of customers wherever they are. By integrating all your sales channels into one seamless system, you’ll save time on stock management, reduce manual admin, and gain real-time insights into orders and inventory—so you can focus on growing your business instead of juggling platforms.
Ethics and Sustainability Adherence
We can expect to see an increased focus on sustainability and ‘being green’ within the small business market in the next year, as this has been at the forefront of negative discourse surrounding larger chains. A lot of SME’s (Small or Medium Sized Enterprises) are starting to promote their products from an environmentally conscious standpoint, as it gives them the edge over their large-scale competitors.
At RODA, we use our expertise to make informed decisions for you and your business, keeping your brand ahead of the game as well as using marketing techniques which suit your particular business model. Our aim is to increase your sales growth and drive real, positive results.
