5 Trends for 2026 Every Small Business Owner Should Know

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1. Adopt AI Automation for Daily Operations

Undoubtedly, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) will remain a critical factor across virtually every industry and profession, and its importance won’t abate.

According to a 2024 Business Development Bank of Canada survey, 66% of small to mid-sized businesses use some AI tool for at least one business function. More companies will likely follow suit. 

Besides, your customers are using it. For example, a Shopify survey of 18,000 consumers last November found that 64% used AI for at least one shopping task during the holiday season. That’s noteworthy, particularly when you consider how consumers are increasingly turning to AI to search for products, services, or answers to questions they have.

Using AI has moved beyond the experimental stage, as more Canadian small businesses tap into it for a broad range of operational uses, such as bookkeeping, customer service, marketing, and data analysis.

For 2026: Try selecting a couple of routine workflows to automate, such as customer invoicing or generating social content, and choose AI tools that integrate with your existing software systems.

2. Increase Your Small Business’s Cybersecurity Defences

There’s no question that cyber threats are increasing, particularly in sophistication and financial impact.

An Insurance Bureau of Canada 2025 survey of business owners showed that they are growing more concerned that AI and other new technologies will make it harder to protect themselves against cyber risks. Yet only 45% say they have policies and training in place to help employees spot AI-generated scams.

Moreover, data shows that 62% of Canadian small businesses don’t consider cybersecurity a financial priority, and only 18% have cyber insurance.

However, as more small businesses adopt AI, the number of AI-generated attacks and data breaches is likely to rise.

For 2026: Start using multifactor authentication (MFA) to access software systems, invest in a password manager tool to safeguard your various passwords, invest in antivirus software, and always back up mission-critical data regularly. Also, if your business depends on mobile devices, consider investing in mobile device cybersecurity tools.

3. Lean Into “Support Local” and “Buy Canadian” Messaging

The tariffs the U.S. levied against Canada did one good thing for us – it got Canadians hopping mad, united, and determined to fight back. Now, consumers are making a greater effort to shop locally and ‘buy Canadian’ to support our economy.

A 2025 Interac survey of Canadians found nearly 79% of consumers agree that supporting local businesses is more important now than in 2024, and 80% are likely to choose Canadian-made goods over imported ones.

So, lean into that enthusiasm. The ‘buy Canadian’ movement isn’t a knee-jerk reaction to U.S. tariffs; it’s about fostering a more independent economy, and it’s clearly triggered a shift in consumer behaviour.

For 2026: Highlight to your customers which products on your shelves are made in Canada or locally sourced – even for professional services, you can highlight that you offer local expertise and partner with local partners.

Team up with independent retailers, restaurants, and other small businesses in your community to offer customers bundled promotions or cross-promote each other, online and offline.

4. Get Serious About Social Commerce

In general, social media has levelled the playing field for small businesses competing with larger companies, and it remains among the strongest tools small businesses can use to grow.

According to CanadianSME magazine, more than 55% of Canadian retailers sell their goods online, with 95% using Facebook and almost as many using Instagram and TikTok.

Selling goods directly through a social media network (aka social commerce) was estimated to grow by 11.7% on an annual basis last year to reach US$8.47 billion in 2025, and is expected to continue to grow annually by almost 11% through to 2030, according to Research And Markets, a market research firm.  

For 2026: Take advantage of the most popular platforms – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok – and use their social commerce options, such as Facebook Marketplace, Instagram Shopping, YouTube Shopping, and TikTok Shop. 

5. Prioritize Short-Form Video

Sticking with leveraging social media to grow your business, short-form videos – video content that’s between five and 90 seconds – are increasingly driving results for small businesses and independent professionals versus longer videos or static social posts.

TikToks, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are estimated to generate almost three times as many interactions as long-form vids, and 73% of consumers prefer short-form videos to learn about products and services, according to Hootsuite data.

For 2026: Choose one social media platform (TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube) and record a dozen or more short clips answering customer questions, that show your work before and after, or quickie overviews of products and services you offer.

Be sure to include a call-to-action for viewers, such as ‘click the link in our bio’ or ‘DM for a quote’, and measure and track each video’s performance each week.

Be 2026 Ready: Get Comprehensive Liability Insurance Online Now

Trying new things to grow your small business’s bottom line is wise, but don’t overlook the need to protect that growth and your finances, assets, and reputation with a comprehensive, low-cost business insurance policy.

Complete our online application now for a free quote in under five minutes.

Zensurance is Canada’s leading online small business insurance brokerage – we do everything online! 

Our brokers are insurance experts who can find the right policy to suit your company and budget from one of over 50 insurers in our partner network, and our technology makes it quick and easy to get the coverage you need in minutes, not days or weeks.

– Reviewed by Brandon Bowie, Senior Broker & Team Lead, Professional Lines, Zensurance.