
ASCP, ISPA and PBA Receive 2026 Power of Associations Award for Esthetics Licensure Compact
This shared recognition celebrates the strength of industry collaboration in advancing professional mobility.
Best Accounting Software recently analyzed and ranked the level of support states offer small businesses. How likely your business is to survive the pandemic can be heavily influenced by where it is located.


The United States has more than 30 million small businesses that employ almost 60 million people. During the global coronavirus pandemic, many either had to shut down or operate at minimum capacity.
Now, as many states begin to reopen, these businesses are trying to get back to some kind of “normal.” Yet, with consumer spending at a 10-year low, a vast number of these businesses are still struggling to make ends meet.
Over the past few months, some businesses have found help in the form of grants, loans, tax deferrals, and eviction and foreclosure moratoriums.
But which states and local fundraisers have and continue to offer the most assistance, and which are leaving small businesses to fend for themselves?
The organization Best Accounting Software reviews and rates financial software to help small businesses, freelancers, nonprofits and other organizations make more informed purchases. They recently ranked each state based on the help they’ve given and are continuing to give to small businesses during the pandemic. Scores depend on the number of loans that have been or are still available, the allocation of federal funding, and their regulations (e.g. extending businesses tax deadlines).
What did they find?
Idaho, Nevada, West Virginia, and Wyoming have no known loans or grants available for small businesses
Only 26 states have (or have had) a statewide loan available for small businesses, with just 17 introducing grant-based schemes
While all states have received some federal funding in the form of PPP and EIDL loans, some received far more support than others. For example, 25.71 percent of small businesses received a PPP loan in North Dakota, while just 12.19 percent received the same in Maryland
The highest percentage of small businesses to have received an EIDL loan advance within one state was 1.18 percent in Hawaii. The lowest was 0.56 percent in West Virginia

This shared recognition celebrates the strength of industry collaboration in advancing professional mobility.

In Dubai, a salon visit isn’t an appointment. It’s a weekly routine, and clients can spend $800 to $1,400 a month on it, according to Gaurav Tripathi of MADI International. On October 6-8, 2026, the market behind those numbers opens its doors as Beautyworld Dubai marks its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together distributors, brands, stylists and salon owners from all over the world.

In October, volunteers plan to walk and take the plunge during at the annual event, HairToStay Does the Bay. Find out how you can participate and support the organization that grants subsidies to cancer patients so they can receive cold cap treatments to save their hair during chemotherapy.
At Premiere Orlando 2026, SALON TODAY catches up with Easihair Pro's Angela Gilmore, who talks about why stylists lose clients who are suffering from thinning hair and hair loss, and how their new Hairlosophy line can help.

Illuminated Paths is a boxed set of 52 cards, a guidebook, and an Oracolor Wheel, a visual framework that helps readers reconnect with the qualities they want to bring into everyday life.

In this rare essay, the president of a haircare brand takes us behind-the-scenes into a world we never see when we pick up a product off the shelves--the arduous, thought-probing, second-guessing journey of rebranding a legacy product line. Not only is her reflection fascinating, but it is also incredibly useful for any salon owner or manufacturer contemplating their own brand.

Twenty lucky winners will be selected July 30th, and each will be able to choose from three different service tray models.

Motivated by loved ones who have battled cancer, Phorest's Barry Quinn and two friends will embark on a three-day trek to the summit of the highest peak in North Africa in September, raising money for HairToStay. Find out how you can help them.

The company's Back to Business Sweepstakes is a direct investment in the stylists and salon owners who are building something that lasts.

Owners start to worry when a month's sales come up short compared to the same period last year, but that may have more to do with the days in the month than with an actual decline. The KIM Report's Alain Audet points to May 2026 as a prime example.