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New Zelle® Survey Data: Boomers Built Main Street. Now They’re Ready to Sell – But Gen Z and Millennials Aren’t Buying.

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New survey data reveals why local American small businesses aren’t attracting buyers – and how updating operations can help win over the next generation.

NEW YORK, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A massive wave of small business owners is preparing to exit (often referred to as the “Silver Tsunami”), but the next generation isn’t lining up to take over.

New data from the 2026 Zelle Small Business Pulse Report reveals a generational disconnect between retiring owners and younger buyers that is putting small businesses at risk of closing. While nearly half (49%) of small business owners over 50 surveyed plan to exit within the next decade, most lack a succession plan – and many may not meet the expectations of a generation raised on fast, digital-first payments.

The result: a looming shakeout on Main Street, where businesses that fail to modernize risk being passed over, but also offer a clear path for buyers to step in, upgrade operations, and unlock potential growth.

“There is a massive opportunity right now for the next generation of entrepreneurs to skip starting from scratch and instead buy and modernize existing businesses,” said Denise Leonhard, general manager of Zelle. “For younger entrepreneurs, expectations are fundamentally different. Raised in an era of fast payments and creator-led businesses, speed, reliability and digital fluency are baseline requirements.”

The 2026 Zelle Small Business Pulse Report, which surveyed business owners approaching retirement and young or prospective entrepreneurs[1], found:

Nearly 9 in 10 (88%) say receiving payments quickly are critical or very important to reducing first-year risk84% are more attracted to businesses that already operate digitallyMore than two-thirds (67%) say outdated payment options could derail a deal altogether

At the same time, many existing businesses aren’t ready for these expectations:

60% of small business owners have no formal succession planOnly 29% say their business is modernized41% would shut down if they can’t find a buyer

The gap between what’s being sold and what buyers expect could determine whether millions of businesses change hands or disappear, with modernization emerging as a lever for increasing value amid barriers like financing, inherited liabilities and overall operational complexity.

The 9-to-5 Workday Is Dead for Small Businesses

Small businesses are already operating beyond the traditional 9-to-5 workday, and that aligns with what the next generation of small business owners expect.

In 2025, nearly half of the small businesses that used Zelle used it after 9 p.m., with more than a quarter active during midnight to 3 a.m. For Gen Z and Millennials, this kind of cash-flow is baseline for how and when businesses run.

Zelle is also powering high-value, business-critical transactions. Small businesses received an average of $477 per payment, with significantly larger amounts across certain key business functions like billing for completed work ($1,043) and recurring monthly payments ($627) for things like yard maintenance, daycare and social media services according to memo fields, a strong indicator that owners trust fast, reliable payments to run their operations.

“[Zelle] is connected to major banks, which gives them a lot of credibility. They keep excellent records financially, they have excellent confirmations as you’re going through the process; everything’s very transparent,” said Randi R., the owner of an interior design company in California. “It just expedites your business all around and saves you time and money.”

“As a small business owner, Zelle makes me feel like I can take care of my clients and make sure the business is consistent and thriving,” said Shawn W., the owner of a travel company in North Carolina. “You don’t have to worry about funds just sitting for days, you will have access as soon as you need, and your clients will have access to funds as soon as they need.”

For businesses that come up for sale, the ability to move money quickly and operate digitally may determine whether they’re seen as an opportunity – or get overlooked.

Zelle is building for both sides of the transition:

Helping current owners modernize with tools like Zelle® tag, now used by more than half of newly enrolled small businesses. This feature allows small businesses to claim a custom handle (e.g., “brooklynbarbeque”) that drops customer payments straight into the business’s eligible bank or credit union account — no email address or U.S. mobile number needed for the sender.Investing in the next wave of entrepreneurs through the Zelle® Community Development & Entrepreneurship Scholarship, which awarded $10,000 to 10 MBA students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) that aspire to keep small businesses alive and local. The scholarship is a partnership between Zelle, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and Community Development Investors.

About the 2026 Zelle Small Business Pulse Report

The 2026 Zelle Small Business Pulse Report is based on two national surveys conducted in March 2026 exploring the impact of the oncoming “Silver Tsunami,” a shift expected to see nearly 2.9 million baby-boomer small business owners retire by 2035.2

The first survey was of 500 small business owners age 50 and above. The second survey was of 250 Gen Z and Millennial current MBA students and/or MBA degree holders under the age of 45.3

About Zelle®
Zelle® powers fast, reliable person-to-person digital payments, moving more than $1 trillion between millions of consumer and small business accounts at United States banks and credit unions. Available through a network of more than 2,300 financial institutions, Zelle® enables people to send and receive money directly – without cash, checks or third-party apps. Zelle® is owned and operated by Early Warning Services, LLC, which works with America’s banks, credit unions and government agencies to drive prosperity, deliver bold innovation and improve how payments are made. Learn more at www.zelle.com.

1 Defined as MBA students or MBA degree holders under the age of 45.
2 Perman, C. (2025, October 9). Employee ownership can help weather the “silver tsunami.” Harvard Business School. https://www.hbs.edu/bigs/silver-tsunami-employee-ownership
3 This consumer research was conducted by Accelerant Research in partnership with Early Warning Services, LLC. The quotes featured were obtained via Qualitative Interviews (N=12) in March 2026. A 10-minute online survey was conducted among 500 small businessowners (age 50+) and 250 MBA enrollees or recent graduates (age<45). Participants were compensated for their time.

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SOURCE Zelle

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REPT BATTERO Deepens Inter Milan Partnership, Brings Latest Innovations to Intersolar Europe 2026

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MUNICH, June 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As global audiences follow the world’s biggest football tournament this summer, another international stage is preparing to bring together innovators, businesses and industry leaders from across the energy sector.

From June 23 to 25, REPT BATTERO will participate in Intersolar Europe 2026 in Munich, Germany, showcasing its latest developments in energy storage, sustainability and global business expansion.

Adding to the excitement, an Inter Milan legend will make a special appearance at the REPT BATTERO booth, meeting customers, partners and visitors from around the world. The appearance follows the company’s recent partnership with Inter Milan, which named REPT BATTERO as the club’s Global Official Battery and Energy Storage Partner.

But beyond products, exhibitions and football, the story REPT BATTERO hopes to tell is about something larger: how a young Chinese battery company is evolving into a global energy brand.

Growth Comes First

For any company looking to expand globally, one question comes before all others: is the business ready?

For REPT BATTERO, the answer is increasingly being reflected in its performance.

According to its 2025 annual results, the company reported revenue of approximately €3.1 billion, up 36.7% year on year, while net profit reached approximately €87 million, marking the company’s first full year of profitability. Annual battery shipments totaled 82.7GWh, representing year-on-year growth of 89.2%.

Energy storage continued to be a key growth driver, generating approximately €1.7 billion in revenue in 2025, an increase of 86.8% compared with the previous year.

The momentum has continued into 2026. In the first quarter, REPT BATTERO ranked No.1 globally in both residential energy storage cell shipments and commercial & industrial energy storage cell shipments, while ranking among the world’s top five in energy storage cell shipments overall. The company has also maintained BloombergNEF Tier 1 Energy Storage Supplier status for eleven consecutive quarters.

These achievements are not simply the result of rapid growth. They reflect years of investment in product development, manufacturing capability, customer relationships and operational excellence.

For REPT BATTERO, globalization is not a sudden ambition. It is the natural next stage of a business that has steadily built the foundations required to compete internationally.

Globalization Beyond Exporting Products

For many companies, globalization begins with exports.

But long-term success requires much more than shipping products overseas.

Customers increasingly evaluate suppliers not only on technology and price, but also on local service capabilities, supply chain resilience, regulatory readiness and long-term reliability. This is particularly true in Europe, where the energy transition continues to drive demand for trusted and sustainable partners.

Over the past several years, REPT BATTERO has been steadily strengthening its international footprint.

The company established its European subsidiary in Munich in 2023 and has since expanded its overseas presence across Germany, the United States, Indonesia, Australia and Japan. Today, REPT BATTERO’s business network spans six continents, supporting customers across a wide range of energy storage and mobility applications.

At the same time, the company is advancing construction of its first overseas manufacturing base in Indonesia, a major milestone in its global manufacturing strategy.

Europe remains one of REPT BATTERO’s most important markets. Earlier this year, during KEY – The Energy Transition Expo in Italy, the company signed energy storage supply agreements totaling 8.3GWh with seven European partners. REPT BATTERO has successfully delivered and deployed energy storage projects in Germany, Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and Latvia, further strengthening its presence in Europe.

Taken together, these developments demonstrate that REPT BATTERO’s global strategy extends far beyond exports. The company is building local presence, local partnerships and long-term capabilities designed to support customers worldwide.

Building a Global Brand

As technology, products and services enter global markets, another challenge emerges: building recognition and trust.

This is one of the reasons behind REPT BATTERO’s partnership with Inter Milan.

Announced in May 2026, the collaboration goes beyond traditional sponsorship. It includes brand campaigns, fan engagement initiatives, customer experiences and future activations across international markets.

For REPT BATTERO, the partnership represents a new approach to global brand building.

Historically, battery companies have communicated primarily through technical specifications, product performance and manufacturing capabilities. While these remain essential, global audiences increasingly connect with brands through stories, experiences and shared values.

Football provides a unique platform for that connection.

With one of the largest fan bases in world football, Inter Milan offers a global stage that transcends language, geography and culture. Through the partnership, REPT BATTERO aims to engage customers and communities in a more accessible, international and human-centered way.

The goal is not simply to increase visibility. It is to help a broader audience understand the innovation, ambition and long-term vision behind the company.

Youth Is About Agility, Not Image

Founded in 2017 and entering production just one year later, REPT BATTERO remains a relatively young company by industry standards.

Yet its development has been remarkably rapid.

The company became one of the fastest battery manufacturers in the industry to surpass RMB 10 billion in annual revenue. Since then, it has continued evolving—from rapid expansion to profitability, from domestic growth to international development, and from product exports to global brand building.

At REPT BATTERO, being young is not about image. It is about agility.

It means responding quickly to changing market conditions, adapting to customer needs and continuously improving across products, operations and organization.

Whether addressing growing demand for residential energy storage in Europe, preparing for emerging battery passport requirements, or navigating an industry increasingly focused on profitability and sustainable growth, REPT BATTERO has consistently demonstrated its ability to adapt and execute.

This combination of innovation, responsiveness and global ambition continues to shape the company’s identity as it enters its next stage of development.

See You in Munich

From SNEC in Shanghai to Intersolar Europe in Munich, the interaction between REPT BATTERO and INTER MILAN continues.

Yet the company’s story is about more than exhibitions or celebrity appearances. It is about the evolution of a young energy company building the capabilities, partnerships and brand needed to compete on a global stage.

This June, as the FIFA World Cup captures the attention of football fans around the world, REPT BATTERO will welcome an Inter Milan legend to its booth at Intersolar Europe in Munich.

When a player who once stood at the pinnacle of world football walks into the booth of a young Chinese energy company and exchanges handshakes and conversations with customers and partners from across the globe, the moment represents something larger than a partnership.

It reflects how far REPT BATTERO has come—and where it is heading next.

From a fast-growing battery manufacturer to an increasingly global energy brand, REPT BATTERO’s journey is still being written. And perhaps, that scene in Munich will be one of its most meaningful chapters yet.

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Felicitysolar Strengthens Brand Presence at SNEC 2026

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GUANGZHOU, China, June 20 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Felicitysolar presented its energy storage product portfolio, technical progress, third-party recognition, and global cooperation achievements at SNEC 2026, held in Shanghai from June 3 to June 5.

During the exhibition, Felicitysolar showcased solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial energy applications, including the 50kW C&I ESS, 125kW/257kWh system, 125kW/261kWh liquid-cooled all-in-one system, and FLB Series low-voltage residential battery pack. These products reflected the company’s continued focus on system reliability, flexible deployment, and practical energy storage needs across different scenarios.

Felicitysolar also held Chinese and English product presentations on June 3 and June 4, covering commercial and industrial energy storage systems, low-voltage residential battery packs, intelligent management platforms, and the company’s newly developed AI management platform. Through application-oriented explanations, the presentations helped customers better understand the role of Felicitysolar’s products in residential, commercial, and industrial energy management.

Third-party activities during the exhibition added further depth to Felicitysolar’s brand presentation. Intertek issued ETL certificates for Felicitysolar’s energy storage system and photovoltaic inverter products and granted the company Intertek “Satellite Program” laboratory qualification, supporting product access to the North American market and recognizing Felicitysolar’s in-house testing capability. DEKRA presented certificates related to Felicitysolar’s hybrid inverter and energy storage battery system products for European and international standards. SGS granted an Australian grid-connection certificate for Felicitysolar’s IVGM25KHP3G3 Series high-voltage hybrid inverter. EUPD Research recognition was also presented during the exhibition.

In addition, Felicitysolar received three Global Smart Energy Award honors: ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR, FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY, and INNOVATIVE SOLUTION. These awards recognized Felicitysolar’s overall development, the FLB Series low-voltage LiFePO4 battery pack, and the 50kW high-voltage hybrid energy storage system, respectively. Together with the third-party activities, the awards highlighted Felicitysolar’s continued progress in product development, quality systems, market readiness, and solution capabilities.

The company also held partner signing ceremonies for Argentina and Chile, strengthening communication and cooperation with partners in Latin America. As energy storage demand grows across regional markets, localized cooperation remains an important part of Felicitysolar’s global development.

To extend the exhibition experience beyond the venue, Felicitysolar launched an online VR booth tour, allowing customers to explore the booth layout, featured products, and related materials after the event:
https://www.felicitysolar.com/snec-pv-power-expo-shanghai-vr-tour/

Through product showcases, technical presentations, third-party activities, award recognition, localized partnerships, and digital exhibition tools, Felicitysolar used SNEC 2026 to present its brand capabilities in solar energy storage. The company will continue to focus on practical energy needs across residential, commercial, and industrial applications while strengthening its products, services, and global cooperation capabilities.

About Felicitysolar

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Guangzhou, China, Felicitysolar provides solar energy storage solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Its product portfolio covers solar inverters, lithium battery packs, integrated solar street lights, commercial and industrial energy storage systems, and related smart energy solutions.

CONTACT:
Felicitysolar Marketing Department
pr@felicitysolar.com
+86-18620102298

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Alcott HR Appoints Michael Pascucci as Director of Strategic Projects

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FARMINGDALE, N.Y., June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Alcott HR announces Michael Pascucci as Director of Strategic Projects. Michael brings over ten years of experience in HR operations and project management.

Before joining Alcott HR, he held senior roles leading technology upgrades and launching new employee benefits programs. This experience supports Alcott’s initiatives, helping the company grow while putting clients first.

 As Director, Michael drives operational excellence at Alcott HR by leading strategic projects. He maintains processes to ensure Alcott stays flexible and personalized during growth. Michael focuses on projects that further enhance client support.

Improving Data Accuracy:  Michael connects Alcott’s main systems with partners. Automating these connections streamlines onboarding and enrollment, ensuring benefits and payroll are accurate and secure. This gives clients confidence their information is in good hands.

Creating a Seamless Client Experience:  Michael is improving how Alcott manages projects and client renewals. With consistency in these processes, Alcott delivers a seamless, dependable experience, especially during year-end reporting and enrollment.

Building for Growth:  By replacing manual tasks with digital solutions, Michael helps Alcott grow with its clients. This allows the team to focus on building relationships and offering expert HR guidance to help clients achieve their goals.

“Michael doesn’t just manage projects, he builds systems that help our team excel,” said Kristen Bartolotta, Sr. Director of Operations at Alcott HR. “His ability to transform complex processes into streamlined solutions has improved our efficiency and enhanced our client service.”

“Working with the talented Alcott team has been a great experience,” said Michael Pascucci. “I’m excited to continue working across departments to improve our processes, boost efficiency, and help the company keep growing.”

Through these efforts, Michael helps Alcott deliver even greater value to clients by driving innovation, strengthening relationships, and ensuring every organization can reach its potential.

About Alcott HR: Alcott HR is an IRS Certified* and ESAC Accredited, Professional Employer Organization that provides a comprehensive range of human resources solutions to small and mid-sized businesses. With nearly four decades of experience, Alcott HR offers customized services that allow businesses to manage their workforce more effectively while staying compliant with state and federal regulations. Their services include payroll, benefits, risk management, and HR support, designed to help businesses grow and succeed.

The IRS does not endorse any particular certified professional employer organization.

Media Contact:
Sarah Zulawski
Marketing Specialist
szulawski@alcotthr.com 
(716) 241-8893 

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SOURCE Alcott HR

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