business
Payment friction doesn't show up on a P&L, but it costs small businesses customers
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Stacker , KVIA ABC-7
· July 22, 2026
· 6 min read
Payment friction is one of the few business costs that never gets a line item. Maybe it’s a customer who didn’t return, or a deposit that arrived after payroll was due. That cost was always there, but it’s getting harder to absorb. A recent survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers and 210 small business op...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Stacker, KVIA ABC-7 Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 22, 2026 Indexed here Jul 22, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway consumers and 210 small business operators conducted in May 2026 and commissioned by Flute, makes that cost a lot easier to see.
Why this matters in The El Paso
In El Paso, where small businesses are the backbone of the local economy, the hidden costs of inflexible payment experiences can have a significant impact. With a large portion of consumers, especially younger generations, expecting seamless and convenient payment options, businesses that fail to deliver may find themselves losing customers without even realizing it. The fact that 55% of consumers would stop or reconsider shopping at a local business after a bad payment experience is particularly concerning for El Paso's small business owners, who often rely on repeat customers to stay afloat. As the city's business community continues to grow and evolve, it's crucial for merchants to prioritize flexible and user-friendly payment options to stay competitive and retain customers. By doing so, they can avoid the unseen costs of payment friction and build a loyal customer base that will support them for years to come.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: business ·
Published: July 22, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 6 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Payment friction is one of the few business costs that never gets a line item. Maybe it’s a customer who didn’t return, or a deposit that arrived after payroll was due. That cost was always there, but it’s getting harder to absorb. A recent survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers and 210 small business op...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Stacker at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more business coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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