7 in 10 small business owners concerned about future amidst tax hikes and financial uncertainty

A survey by NFU Mutual found that 7 in 10 small business owners are concerned about their future, citing tax rises, inflation, and the National Insurance increase as top challenges. Young business owners aged 25-34 are the most anxious, but also the most confident about their business's potential for growth in 2026. Despite a challenging backdrop, 25-34 year olds are confident about their business's growth potential.

Better Home & Finance Holding Company (NASDAQ: BETR), a leading AI-native home finance company, has announced the launch of its new Bank Statement Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) program. This innovative offering is designed to cater to the unique financial needs of small business owners, freelancers, and gig workers who often struggle with traditional HELOC underwriting processes Better.com’s AI-Driven HELOC Underwriting Makes Approval with “Bank Statements Only” Possible for 36.2M Self-Employed or Small Business Owner Americans^[1].

The new program leverages Better's AI-driven Tinman® platform to analyze 12 or 24 months of personal and/or business bank statements, providing instant income verification without the need for tax returns, P&Ls, or W2s. This streamlined process aims to address the concerns of small business owners, particularly those aged 25-34, who are grappling with tax rises, inflation, and the National Insurance increase .

Better.com's new HELOC program offers several benefits, including:

- Accessibility: The program is designed for small business owners, freelancers, independent contractors, and gig economy workers, as well as professionals with significant business expenses that reduce taxable income.
- Speed and Efficiency: Better's AI platform enables nearly instant underwritten approvals, with customers able to access cash in as little as 7 days.
- Debt Consolidation: The program allows borrowers to consolidate high-interest debt, with an average monthly savings of $1,120, as reported by Better in Q2 2025 Better.com’s AI-Driven HELOC Underwriting Makes Approval with “Bank Statements Only” Possible for 36.2M Self-Employed or Small Business Owner Americans^[1].
- Credit Score Improvement: Data shows that debt consolidation through HELOC funds has helped Better customers improve their credit score, with the largest lifts seen among those in lower FICO bands Better.com’s AI-Driven HELOC Underwriting Makes Approval with “Bank Statements Only” Possible for 36.2M Self-Employed or Small Business Owner Americans^[1].

The new HELOC program is a significant step for Better.com, reinforcing its position as one of the fastest-growing AI-native home equity lenders in the US. By expanding access to home equity for self-employed borrowers, Better.com is addressing a critical point of pain for millions of small business owners who have historically been unable to qualify for home equity loans despite having strong credit and cash flow Better.com’s AI-Driven HELOC Underwriting Makes Approval with “Bank Statements Only” Possible for 36.2M Self-Employed or Small Business Owner Americans^[1].

To learn more about Better's Bank Statement HELOC program and get approved in as little as 3 minutes, customers can apply online at better.com/heloc. For more information about Better Home & Finance Holding Company, follow @betterdotcom on Instagram and TikTok.