In Dallas, there is a sense of caution among small business owners for the year 2026, as per recent data from Thryv® (NASDAQ: THRY). A survey conducted by the SMB marketing platform in mid-December 2025 revealed that entrepreneurs are facing challenges leading to subdued optimism. When asked about factors they were hopeful about in their business, such as the economy, competitive advantages, technological advancements like AI, and recruitment capacities, a high proportion (39 percent) chose "none of the above." However, there were some positive indicators with nearly 30 percent of SMBs expressing optimism.