This National Small Business Week, Small Business Owners Can’t Catch A Break

It’s National Small Business Week. American small businesses make up the backbone of the U.S. economy, embodying the American spirit through hard work, innovation and perseverance. This year, however, a tariff cloud hangs over more than 33 million small businesses are they deal with increasing uncertainty and significant price hikes that threaten their financial stability.

Small businesses, which comprise 99.9% of businesses in the United States, are rightfully concerned over the nation’s current economic outlook and tariff policies. Consumer confidence continues to plummet month after month to new lows, and American households are expected to pay $4,900 more for everyday household goods due to tariffs. The economy has felt the pain, as U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) contracted at a rate of 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, falling far short of expectations.

If Washington hopes to improve the economic climate for small businesses, tariffs will have the opposite effect.

National Small Business week is a reminder to put small businesses and working-class Americans first. As small businesses grapple with the negative consequences of tariffs, such as price increases and disruptions in their supply chains, owners are saying enough is enough.

Don’t believe us? Watch some of their stories.

Dave Skirpan, owner of Susan’s Treasures Gift Store in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania, expresses concern over tarffs as his customers face cost increases to popular imported products.

Justin Bartlett, managing director at Crossroads Fireworks in Iowa, shares that tariffs are already impacting his firework store and will ruin upcoming holidays and celebrations.

Stacy Griffin, owner of Petal Creations, a flower store in Lincoln, Nebraska, describes the impact of tariffs on the rising costs of flowers facing her customers.

Erin Hagan, owner of Erin Hagan Styling in Lansing, Michigan, says tariffs are problematic for her business, inflicting turmoil on business costs, shipping, budgets and general efficiency that fall back on her customers.

Marcus Gomez, owner of California Clothing Recyclers in Sacramento, discusses how tariffs are bringing pain for his small business, as shipping lanes have been disrupted by tariff uncertainty.

To hear from more small business owners who are concerned with tariffs, check out CASE For America’s stories page HERE.