Cardiff, Inc. Helps Small Businesses Navigate Latest Fed Rate Hike

San Diego-based small business lender breaks down what the Fed’s first rate hike since 2023 means for small business financing nationwide.

Del Mar, CA (PRUnderground) September 30th, 2026

On September 16, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2023, lifting the federal funds rate by a quarter point to a target range of 3.75% to 4%.¹ Cardiff, Inc., a San Diego-based small business lender that has funded more than $12 billion to small businesses since 2004, says the timing may affect owners who have not yet lined up financing ahead of the fourth quarter. Its advisors are working with those business owners to assess their financing needs and consider options before the higher-rate environment has a greater impact on borrowing costs.

Not all small-business financing responds to a rate increase the same way. Payments can rise for products with a variable interest rate tied to a floating benchmark. Financing structures priced with a factor rate set the total repayment amount at the time of funding. Cardiff’s merchant cash advance is one such product where the total repayment amount does not change even if the Federal Reserve raises rates again later this year.

“When the Fed moves, we often hear from business owners who wish they had lined up funding before rates went up,” said William Stern, Founder of Cardiff. “Financing needs can come up quickly, whether a business needs to cover a temporary cash flow gap or take advantage of an opportunity. When owners wait until they need the money, they have less time to evaluate the financing available to them. Our goal is to give owners options they can consider ahead of time so they can make financing decisions based on what works for their business rather than trying to time the market.”

Cardiff works with small businesses across a range of industries and considers factors such as business revenue, cash flow, time in business, and financing needs when evaluating applications. The company offers several types of financing, including business term loans, equipment financing, business lines of credit, and invoice financing, giving owners different ways to address expenses based on their individual circumstances. Cardiff pairs this range of products with an underwriting process that combines automated tools with human review, allowing the company to evaluate which financing option may fit a particular business.

“A business owner deciding whether to take working capital today or wait should not base his or her decision on this Fed meeting,” stated Dean Lyulkin, CEO of Cardiff. “What can the capital earn tomorrow, next week, and next quarter? Can the business turn inventory profitably, increase capacity with new equipment, or fund a project with an attractive return? Those are the most important questions for 99% of CEOs.”

As the Federal Reserve signals the possibility of another increase before the end of the year, Cardiff is encouraging small business owners to plan financing decisions before the need becomes urgent. Business owners entering the fourth quarter without financing in place may have fewer options if a cash flow gap forces a decision under time pressure. Lining up financing in advance gives owners more room to compare products and terms rather than accepting whichever offer is fastest to close.

To learn more about small business financing options offered by Cardiff or to apply for funding, call (888) 234-0166 or visit Cardiff.co.

¹www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20260916a.htm