Small Business Pulse: U.S. owners head into Q4 with their best revenue outlook of 2026, with 54% expecting sales growth in the next three months, per Citizens’ Business Pulse survey. Wage Pressure & Exemptions: The Philippines’ labor department says small retail/service firms under 10 workers (and some disaster-affected businesses) can seek exemptions from wage hike orders, with applications due within 75 days. Cost Crunch Politics: Malaysia’s DAP leader Lim Guan Eng argues foreign workers should be excluded from any minimum wage increase and calls to repeal mandatory EPF contributions for foreign workers. Local Growth Roadmap: A new Chicagoland report says the small-business ecosystem has strengthened since 2018, but points to gaps in turning support into sustained growth. Tools for Scaling: Tennessee-area firm Bold Trace launched a free online scalability assessment for small businesses planning 2027. Trade & Compliance: Gene Mack International earned U.S. CTPAT certification as trade rules tighten. Travel Rules for Hosts: Airbnb urges clear national short-term rental guidelines so small hosts can comply without getting crushed by patchwork local rules.