Small businesses

Since 1952, Schwan’s yellow trucks and friendly drivers have been delivering frozen food to households. The industry has become more competitive and crowded and recently, the company changed names and stopped deliveries in most states.

While the labor market is still tight, some owners aren’t feeling like they need to hike pay as much as they did earlier in the pandemic.

And they can achieve that through better collaboration with companies big and small in their industries.

For restaurants and retailers in particular, it can lead to something the Federal Reserve's Beige Book calls "lumpy" pricing.

Adrian Espinoza, owner of Empanada Club in Portland, Maine, talks about starting his business dealing with rising costs.

So government stats on job openings may not be telling us much.

The National Association of Independent Business's small business optimism index has been below its historical average for nearly two years.

Danielle McCarthy and Ellen Kelly run a luxury wedding stationery business in Newport, Rhode Island, where they specialize in letterpress printing.

Maddie Gartmann of Garty Goodies enjoys sweet success with special event orders and cookie decorating classes.

Three women entrepreneurs talk about their experiences starting their own businesses, and whether it helped them get better pay and flexibility.