Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com (617) 875-6581 The State of Small Business: Washington-Created Uncertainty is Squeezing Main Street Statement by Small Business for America’s Future Co-Chair Shaundell Newsome, Founder of Sumnu Marketing in Las Vegas, on President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union Address Washington D.C., Feb. 24, 2026 – “Tonight, the president stood before the joint session of Congress at the Capitol and painted a picture of a thriving economy. But for the 30 million small businesses that employ nearly half of America’s workforce, that picture doesn’t match what’s actually happening on Main Street. Small businesses are caught in a double squeeze, with costs rising on one side and customers spending less on the other. That’s not just an economic reality. It’s the result of poor policy choices made in Washington. “The state of small business right now is one of deep concern. Seventy-four percent of small business owners recently reported that they are worried about surviving the year. No amount of stock market gains changes that for the small businesses powering our local communities. The numbers tell the story: the economy grew at just 1.4% at the end of 2025, the country added only 181,000 jobs over the entire year, the slowest pace since 2010, and the unemployment rate sits at 4.3% , up from 4% a year ago. “Small businesses have survived recessions and a pandemic. We don’t need pep talks or stock market cheerleading. We need Washington to stop creating the problems we’re forced to overcome. “That starts with a predictable trade policy that works for Main Street. The Supreme Court just ruled that the administration’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs was unconstitutional. That was a good start, but the damage done by a year of erratic tariffs won’t disappear overnight. Small business owners paid those illegal tariffs from their own pockets, and 80% of affected businesses viewed them as existential or major threats. So instead of searching for workarounds to reimpose those same tariffs, we need lawmakers to find a way to pay back small businesses who operate on thin margins. “We also need a tax code that levels the playing field and supports small business success. Right now, America has a two-tier tax system where large corporations benefit from massive rate cuts and loopholes while small businesses get left behind. Last year, Congress doubled down on that system, adding $3.4 trillion to the deficit while further cementing those corporate advantages. Round-tripping, which costs an estimated $7 billion a year while small businesses pay every cent they owe, is just one example of the corporate loopholes that need closing. “And it’s not just taxes and trade policy draining the bottom line. Small businesses are also being squeezed by inflation and surging healthcare costs . When Congress let the enhanced ACA premium tax credits expire at the end of 2025, it pushed millions of small business owners and their employees off a healthcare affordability cliff. Policymakers need to restore those credits and protect Medicaid. “Tariffs. Taxes. Healthcare. Inflation. It all adds up to an affordability crisis on Main Street. Small businesses employ nearly half the American workforce and bring economic vitality to every community in this country. Bringing down the cost of running a small business isn’t just good for owners, it’s an investment in the entire economy. We represent owners who wake up every day committed to their communities, their employees, and this country. Main Street is ready to work with anyone serious about solving these problems. We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking Washington to stop standing in our way.”  To request an interview with Small Business for America’s Future Co-Chair Shaundell Newsome, contact Janel Knight Trulear at janel@emccommunications.com or 617-875-6581. ### About Small Business for America’s Future Small Business for America’s Future is a national coalition of small business owners and leaders working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We’re committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize the nation’s 30 million small businesses to create an economy that works for them, their workers and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook . #SmallBizAF.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com (617) 875-6581 SCOTUS Tariff Ruling is a Good Start for Main Street, but Small Businesses Still Face Mounting Economic Pressures Statement by Small Business for America’s Future council member Katrina Golden, owner of Lil Mama’s Sweets and Treats on the Supreme Court ruling to Strike Down President Trump’s Tariffs that have been Devastating Small Businesses Washington D.C., Feb. 20, 2026 – “Today's Supreme Court ruling affirms that this tariff policy was illegal. The way these tariffs were implemented created chaos for small businesses , upending supply chains, driving up costs and leaving owners with no ability to plan for the future. For small business owners who have spent months struggling under the weight of these tariffs, this decision is a critical first step. But it doesn't undo the damage already done. "The tariffs have been devastating to Main Street. In our survey of over 500 small business owners, 80% of those affected by tariffs viewed them as existential or major threats to their operations. Seventy-one percent expected tariffs to negatively impact consumer spending this holiday season. Among businesses affected, 25% were forced to raise prices and lose customers to big-box retailers, while 35% absorbed costs that shrunk their profit margins. Unlike large corporations with cash reserves to weather these storms, small businesses were forced into impossible choices — raise prices and watch customers flee, or absorb costs and watch margins evaporate. "Small businesses need relief now. They need the money taken from them returned and a clear path forward to rebuild and recover. "We are eager to work with Congress and the administration to ensure small businesses get the support they need to recover from the damage caused by this failed policy. Main Street has shouldered enough. It is time to turn this ruling into real relief for the small businesses that power our communities and our economy." To request an interview with Small Business for America’s Future council member Katrina Golden contact Janel Knight Trulear at janel@emccommunications.com or 617-875-6581. ### About Small Business for America’s Future Small Business for America’s Future is a national coalition of small business owners and leaders working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We’re committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize the nation’s 30 million small businesses to create an economy that works for them, their workers and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook . #SmallBizAF.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Nazirah Ahmad nazirah@emccommunications.com 704-290-6869 STATEMENT: Small Businesses Need State Election Authority Protection to Thrive Statement by Small Business for America's Future Co-chair Shaundell Newsome, Founder and Visionary of Sumnu Marketing Feb. 12, 2026 – “Small businesses depend on stable, well-run state elections to thrive. When our election systems work properly, we can plan for the future, invest with confidence, and serve our communities. The resolution introduced by Sen. Ed Markey is important for Main Street because it safeguards states’ authority to run federal elections.  “With the House passing the SAVE America Act to weaken state election authority, this resolution couldn’t come at a more critical time. Federal interference in state election systems creates uncertainty that Main Street just can’t afford. When people trust election results, when they believe the system is legitimate and responsive, that creates the stability businesses need to grow. Attempts to nationalize elections would undermine that trust and create exactly the kind of uncertainty that hurts Main Street. “ Eighty-nine percent of small business owners say a well-functioning democracy is vital for a strong small business economy. We can’t run successful businesses when the rules governing our most basic voting processes become uncertain. Main Street needs stability, not power grabs. “This resolution protects the state-based election system that has served our country since its founding. That's good policy for businesses.” To request an interview with Small Business for America's Future Co-chair Shaundell Newsome or other small business owners, contact Nazirah Ahmad at nazirah@emccommunications.com or 704-290-6869. ### About Small Business for America's Future Small Business for America's Future is a coalition of small business owners and leaders nationwide working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We're committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize Main Street by advancing a just and equitable economic framework that works for small business owners, their employees and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com 617-875-6581 STATEMENT: IRS budget cuts create chaos for small businesses during tax season Small businesses pay their taxes and get a broken IRS in return, says Small Business for America's Future Co-chair Anne Zimmerman Feb. 5, 2026 – “Tax season is going to be a mess . The IRS has been gutted with nearly 20% of its workforce cut in key functions. They're so desperate for staff that they're pulling people from HR and IT departments to process returns and answer phones. These are employees with no tax experience being assigned to handle business tax returns. "I work with small businesses every day. They're already stretched thin dealing with inflation, tariff uncertainty, and skyrocketing healthcare costs. The last thing they need is an IRS that can't answer the phone. Processing centers are understaffed and undertrained, phone lines are overwhelmed, and the services that help small businesses navigate our complex tax code are disappearing right when millions of Americans are filing their returns. Small businesses don't have the bandwidth for this kind of chaos. "When you gut the IRS, the agency can't afford to go after large corporations with teams of lawyers and complicated returns that take years to audit. Research shows audits of large corporations are the first to go when IRS funding is tight because these audits require highly trained personnel and significant time. So they focus on the easy targets, small businesses. “Small business owners pay their taxes. Their tax dollars are supposed to fund an agency that helps them comply with the law and ensures everyone else pays their fair share. Instead, those tax dollars are being wasted on a gutted agency that can’t answer phones, can't process returns efficiently, and can’t go after tax evaders. "While the IRS struggles to function, the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill locked in place a tax code that favors large corporations over small businesses. The complexity of the tax code costs small businesses billions in compliance every year. Our own polling shows 91% of small business owners feel disadvantaged compared to large corporations when it comes to the tax code. “A gutted IRS combined with a complex tax code that favors large corporations makes it harder for honest small businesses to comply with the law. We need an IRS that works, and we need a tax code that treats small businesses fairly.” To request an interview with Small Business for America's Future Co-chair Anne Zimmerman or other small business owners, contact Janel Knight Trulear at (617) 875-6581 or janel@emccommunications.com. ### About Small Business for America's Future Small Business for America's Future is a coalition of small business owners and leaders nationwide working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We're committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize Main Street by advancing a just and equitable economic framework that works for small business owners, their employees and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com 617-875-6581 STATEMENT: Bipartisan House vote moves to reverse Main Street healthcare disaster; Senate must act immediately to extend ACA tax credits as small businesses bleed from premium spikes Small Business for America’s Future Co-chair Shaundell Newsome, founder of Sumnu Marketing in Las Vegas: House delivers lifeline with three-year ACA tax credit extension—now Senate must do the same as 5 million small business owners drown in soaring premiums Jan. 8, 2026 – “Today the House took a critical step to provide small businesses with desperately needed relief by passing a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits. This vote proves that when lawmakers put partisanship aside they can deliver solutions. Now the Senate must follow suit and act immediately to stop the healthcare cost disaster from crushing 5 million small business owners that use the ACA marketplaces for health insurance. “Congress allowed these tax credits to expire at the end of 2025, and now small business owners are seeing their premiums skyrocket. We’re not talking about projections anymore. This crisis is happening now. Owners are faced with draining their savings, cutting staff, and making hard choices between healthcare coverage and keeping their doors open. This is not a partisan issue for small business owners. Our surveys have found 87% of us want Congress to make these tax credits permanent. We've signed letters . We’ve made calls. We've told our stories . The House listened. Now we’re demanding that the Senate not abandon us. Pass this extension immediately or millions of small businesses will face existential consequences. “America’s 33 million small businesses employ nearly half the workers in this country. When we struggle, entire communities suffer. The House showed today that relief is possible. Now it’s time for the Senate to finish the job.” To request an interview with Small Business for America's Future Co-chair Shaundell Newsome or other small business owners, contact Janel Knight Trulear at (617) 875-6581 or janel@emccommunications.com. ### About Small Business for America's Future Small Business for America's Future is a coalition of small business owners and leaders nationwide working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We're committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize Main Street by advancing a just and equitable economic framework that works for small business owners, their employees and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com 617-875-6581 STATEMENT: 3 weeks until disaster: Senate failed Main Street today, leaving little time before healthcare costs skyrocket Statement from Small Business for America's Future Co-chair Shaundell Newsome, founder of Sumnu Marketing in Las Vegas: Main Street healthcare cost crisis is real after ACA tax credit vote fails—74% of small business owners fear they won’t survive Dec. 11, 2025 – “Today the Senate failed to provide small businesses with much needed financial relief by refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits. Instead, they abandoned us and added soaring healthcare costs to the economic crisis crushing Main Street this year. We’re beyond disappointed that 5 million small business owners are now almost certain to see their premiums double at the end of the month. “We need Congress to extend these ACA tax credits now so we can plan for next year without fearing a healthcare cost crisis on top of inflation and tariffs, which have cut deep into our bottom lines. Instead, today we got more of the dysfunction that is causing 74% of us to worry about surviving the next 12 months. “This is not a partisan issue for small business owners. Our recent survey found 87% of us want Congress to make these tax credits permanent. We’ve signed letters . We’ve made calls. We’ve told our stories . Now we’re pleading: Congress, do not abandon us. Extend these tax credits before the year runs out or millions of small businesses will face existential consequences. “I know owners who will be forced to close their doors—not because their businesses aren't viable, but because they must have coverage they will no longer be able to afford. Others will lose their workforce to larger companies that can offer benefits, bleeding away years of training and institutional knowledge. “While small businesses face a crisis of neglect, Congress has helped our largest competitors by passing H.R. 1, which handed more than $2 trillion in tax cuts to large corporations and the wealthy while slashing nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and doing nothing to address our healthcare costs. “America's 33 million small businesses employ nearly half the workers in this country. When we struggle, entire communities suffer. Congress had the power to provide relief today and chose not to. We deserve better.” To request an interview with Small Business for America's Future Co-chair Shaundell Newsome or other small business owners, contact Janel Knight Trulear at (617) 875-6581 or janel@emccommunications.com. ### About Small Business for America's Future Small Business for America's Future is a coalition of small business owners and leaders nationwide working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We're committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize Main Street by advancing a just and equitable economic framework that works for small business owners, their employees and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com 617-875-6581 STATEMENT: ‘We Don’t Have Time to Wait’: Struggling Small Business Owners Urge Congress to Extend ACA Tax Credits Before Year-End Expiration Triggers Cost Crisis Statement from Small Business for America’s Future member Katrina Golden, a Georgia bakery and coffee shop owner: This week’s Senate vote on the fate of ACA health care tax credits is a make-or-break moment for many small businesses already crushed by tariffs and inflation Dec. 9, 2025 – “Congress has only days to act before they leave town for the holidays and the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expire in three weeks. If they don’t, healthcare premiums will double for roughly 5 million small business owners who depend on them. That’s why I joined nearly 200 small business owners across the country in signing a letter this week demanding action. Without it, we’re facing a healthcare cost crisis that threatens small business survival during the make-or-break holiday season. “Our recent survey found that 87% of small business owners want Congress to make these credits permanent. If the ACA tax credits expire, more than one in three small business owners say the combined pressure of rising healthcare costs and other economic factors threatens their ability to stay in business. And, more than 80% said the expiration of the tax credits and the resulting increasing premium prices put them at a disadvantage with their corporate competitors because workers will leave to seek jobs with lower cost health insurance. These aren’t abstract numbers—they’re real businesses having to make painful choices that will hurt entire communities. “I’m one of those businesses. I opened my first brick-and-mortar bakery and coffee shop last year. My employees rely on the exchange for insurance because I can’t afford to offer benefits. I’ve invested in training them, and they’re good workers. But I know they’ll leave for jobs that offer insurance if they see their premiums spike because Congress allows the tax credits to expire. “This is a crucial season for small businesses’ economic success. Far too many of us are already questioning whether Christmas is cancelled because tariffs and inflation have raised our costs while taking money out of our customers’ pockets. We can’t also absorb a healthcare costs crisis. Congress isn’t helping. They passed H.R. 1, providing more than $2 trillion in tax cuts to large corporations and the wealthy without addressing the ACA tax credits and slashing nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid. Our big business competitors got billions in breaks while small businesses are getting crushed. “America’s 33 million small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but we’re being tested like never before. Tariffs, inflation, and now skyrocketing healthcare costs, are squeezing us from every direction. We can’t absorb all of the economic pain caused by misguided policies. Congress must address high healthcare costs now and give Main Street the stability we need to keep employing people and supporting our communities.”  ### About Small Business for America’s Future Small Business for America’s Future is a coalition of small business owners and leaders nationwide working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We’re committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize Main Street by advancing a just and equitable economic framework that works for small business owners, their employees and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. #SmallBizAF.

December 9, 2025 Protect Main Street: Extend ACA Tax Credits and Keep Healthcare Affordable for Small Businesses Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, representing 99.9% of all U.S. businesses and employing nearly half of the private workforce. We are the engine of innovation, job creation, and economic growth that sustains communities nationwide. As network members of Small Business for America's Future, we speak for small business owners across the country facing an unprecedented healthcare affordability crisis. Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits—relied on by roughly 5 million small business owners –are set to expire on December 31. Without immediate Congressional action, the consequences will cause severe financial strain threatening our stability and growth. Recent Small Business for America's Future survey data reveals the overwhelming support for the ACA tax credits among small business owners and the devastating impact on small businesses if these tax credits at the end of the year: 87% want Congress to make them permanent 84% are concerned about their ability to afford healthcare if the credits expire More than a third (35%) would face severe financial strains threatening their operations When healthcare costs spike, small businesses lose their competitive edge. Unlike large corporations with deep resources, we operate on thin margins. We cannot absorb sudden cost increases without cutting jobs, raising prices, or losing valued employees to large companies offering better benefits. This crisis compounds existing pressures—tariffs, inflation, and a tax system that favors the wealthy. Congress passed H.R. 1, delivering $2+ trillion in tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy, while failing to extend ACA tax credits and slashing nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid. These policies create a two-tiered economy that boosts big business, and gives Main Street scraps leaving us vulnerable and struggling to survive. Consider the real impact on small businesses across America: A Missouri government contract business owner's health monthly premiums will spike to $700 from $129 on January 1st. She has a number of health conditions and is considering getting a part-time job or closing her business of 11 years because it's too costly for her to afford monthly premiums for her health insurance without these ACA tax credits that are set to expire. A personal finance business owner in North Carolina will pay over $400 more a month on the health insurance marketplace on January 1st. This will divert money she planned to invest and expand her business. The success of America's economy depends on the success of its small businesses. We employ your constituents, strengthen local communities, and drive innovation. We are not asking for special treatment—we are asking for fairness and stability. Congress and the Administration must act now to extend ACA tax credits and keep healthcare affordable for small businesses. Sincerely, Alabama Kingsley Iyobebe, K & S Financial Group, Inc., Montgomery, AL Henry McMullen, Mac BBQ Place, Aliceville, AL Arizona Jonathan Eagan, Copper City Spirits, Phoenix, AZ Gabe Hagen, Brick Road Community Corporation, Tempe, AZ Melissa Harlan, Drink Me! Tea Room, Tempe, AZ Timothy Lewis, OPR LLC, Cave Creek, AZ Richard Snyder, KirbyDerby LLC, Tucson, AZ California Matthew Aarsvold, Qx Acquisition Corp., Laguna Beach, CA Nii-Laaye Abbey, Nijan Group, Los Angeles, CA Allison Allain, Plumb Crazy Inc., Monrovia, CA Michael Brown, Cantara Cellars, Flat Fish Brewing Company, Camarillo, CA Jay Chansky, Economic Packaging Corp, Newark, CA Anna Chavez, Vez Guitar Academy, Los Angeles, CA Jim Dobyns, NXTGEN Signs, Carlsbad, CA Genee Farr, Costello Solutions LLC, Los Angeles, CA Rebecca Gardiner, VIB Network, San Diego, CA Wilton Guevara, La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill-Sanbrunollc, San Bruno, CA Alan Irvine, Scott's Sacramento River Inc. , Sacramento, CA Sherman Tan King, Better Housing Policies, San Francisco, CA Denise Lee, Snapology, Pleasant Hill, CA Patricia McFall, Poppyfield FCCH, Cameron Park, CA Shery Mendoza, Bulacan Bakeshop & Catering, Los Angeles, CA Engret Moore, Oakland Annex, Oakland, CA Athena Naranjo, Genesis Programs Inc., Ventura, CA Andrea Ruth, ALR Consulting, LLC, Pacifica, CA Erin Sullivan, HHDL of Santa Cruz DBA Innovative Care Advocates, Watsonville, CA Marcia Whitfield, Clean Food Delivered, North Hollywood, CA Orion Zemene, Fresh Brand Foods LLC, San Jose, CA Colorado Bayard Heroy, COHS Financial Services Inc dba H & R Block, Durango, CO Craig Jacobs, Prism Specialties of Colorado, Parker, CO Mark Lopez, MDLI Services Inc., Arvada, CO Tree Sorrells, Alpine Remediation, Inc., Golden, CO Masaru Torito, Kokoro Restaurant, Arvada, CO Delaware James Boyd, 4 Shore Inc., Millsboro, DE District of Columbia Yankee M Butte, Surplus Recovery Org, Washington, DC Florida Corneille Chevalier, Lord & Chevalier, Jacksonville, FL Matthias Joesil, Alien94 LLC, Jacksonville, FL Holly Jones, Clearwater, FL Bonnie Mclean, Spirit Gate Medicine, Pensacola, FL Sergey Nikitin, Emarine LLC, Fort Lauderdale, FL Evelyn Pitts, BBG Concrete & Finishing Inc., Deland, FL Teresa Roberson, The Rene Roberson, Holiday, FL Marcela Roggenburg, Marcela Roggenburg LLC DBA Safety Matters, Deerfield Beach, FL David Strickland II, Strickland Supplies Inc., Jacksonville, FL Georgia Patrick Brown, Sierra International LLC, Conyers, GA André Cross, Atlanta, GA Katrina Golden, Lil Mama's Sweets and Treats, Grovetown, GA Shandra Grace, Air Hair Salon, Grovetown, GA Michelle Murdock, Core Green Technologies, Suwanee, GA Roberto Perez, Woodchip Art in Wood, Ringgold, GA Richard Stone, SamRos Enterprises Inc., Waynesboro, GA Dr. Angelica Thompson, Data Works Inc., Savannah, GA Steven Williams, Atlanta Outsourced Service Professionals, Powder Springs, GA Sandra Wills, The Graphics House LLC, Atlanta, GA Diana Wilson, Blue Moon Risings LLC, Sparta, GA Idaho David Feller, Boise Networks, Meridian, ID Marcella Medor, MarCom LLC, Idaho Falls, ID Illinois Dyann Berndt, Dyann L. Berndt CSR, RPR, Berwyn, IL Sue Harrawood, Peace of Mind Virtual Assistance, North Aurora, IL Stuart Hermodson, Dini's Ice Cream Shoppe LLC, Medinah, IL Eunice Miller Muhammad, Shifa Living PLLC, Villa Park, IL Maxine Mitchell, Applied Real Estate Analysis (AREA) Inc., Chicago, IL Paul Edward Montador, The Scotsman's Kitchen & Bakery, Urbana, IL Nancy Nancy, Ergonomic Solutions Inc., Round Lake, IL Nat Rosasco, Olive Street Design LLC, Villa Park, IL Indiana Jessica Branik, Nursing Shoutouts, Hammond, IN Louisiana Roger Jones Jr, Jones Kingdom Kids Daycare and Learning Center, New Orleans, LA Maryland John Carter, Mission Baking LLC, Baltimore, MD Kimberlee Driggs, D2 LLC DBA: D2 Sitework, Rockville, MD Connie Mazur, CyberVillage Networkers Inc., Ellicott City, MD Simson Paul, Mister Organic Cafe, Hagerstown, MD Joe Reddix, The Reddix Group, Hanover, MD Massachusetts Paul Dupuis, Researchware Inc., Randolph, MA Sondra Fabiano, Fabiano Oil Corp., Wrentham, MA Legrand Lindor, LMI Textiles, Milton, MA Christopher Schaffner, The Green Engineer Inc., Concord, MA Douglas Scheffel, Sajawi Corporation, Littleton, MA Steven Weissman, Westborough, MA Michigan Johnnie Edward Bellows, Aura Company LLC, Ann Arbor, MI Marja Farrow, Farrow Group Inc, Detroit, MI Paula Guthat, Cinema Detroit, Harper Woods, MI Carrin Harris, Blitz Proto, Farmington Hills, MI Carol Huls, DittoForm Michigan LLC, Huntington Woods, MI De Lorenco Jackson, Damajha Systems, Lawton, MI Karen Kloska, AWCCO USA Inc., Romeo, MI Ron Kurnik, Superior Coffee Roasting Co. Inc., Sault Sainte Marie, MI Troy Morris, Kall Morris Inc, Marquette, MI Gary Ringer, Eco-Environmental Solutions, Redford, MI Minnesota Jay Clark, Peace of Mind Counseling, La Crescent, MN Leila Janikamalvand, Leila's Brow Art LLC, Minneapolis, MN Timothy O’Brien, Green Mikl Reataurant and bar, Saint Paul, MN Kari O’Brien, River Shore Catering, Hastings, MN Eric Saksa, Union Optical, Duluth, MN Garrick Villaume, Physical Systems Inc., South Saint Paul, MN Missouri Kerri VanMeveren, Amazing Traditions LLC, Cleveland, MO Mississippi Barbara Coatney, Time Touch Take LLC, Waveland, MS Nebraska Gladys Harrison, Big Mama's Kitchen & Catering Inc., Omaha, NE New Jersey Charles Jerome do Francis, Guybarb Health & Wellness Medical Services, Jackson, NJ Patrick Jjemba, DE & P Technical Services LLC, Marlton, NJ Brian Kaplowitz, MAK Solutions LLC, Bridgewater, NJ Michael Menz, IEC, Runnemede, NJ Trent Oliver, Blue Telescope Laboratories Ltd, Maplewood, NJ North Carolina Ja'Net Adams, EMACK Consulting LLC, Kernersville, NC Jerome Bell Sr, RAJJ Investment Properties Inc., Fayetteville, NC Manley Bradshaw, Fun Cycles Inc. , Valdese, NC Ray Forrest, Difference Driven, Mooresville, NC Steven Gianquinto, The Window Shade and Shutter, Huntersville, NC Latoya Parker, INNERGY Educational Consulting Company LLC, , NC Ommeni Richardson, Elizabeth City, NC Debra Talley, TalleyUp Accounting & Financial Services LLC, Henderson, NC Mel Wright, The Wright Village, Raleigh, NC Nevada Jenay Aiksnoras, Lake Tahoe Yoga & Bliss Experiences, Stateline, NV Tonda Benge, Professional Dog Mom LLC, Stateline, NV Adero Fleming, 3rd Eye Productions, Las Vegas, NV Shaundell Newsome, Sumnu Marketing, Las Vegas, NV Effie Patterson, Clean Cut & Trimmed, Las Vegas, NV Eve Storm, Start PAC LLC, Las Vegas, NV Andrea Vigil, Allegiant Electric LLC, Las Vegas, NV Jack Vosburgh, Vosburgh Ventures LLC, Las Vegas, NV New York Justine Barda, Telescope Film, Brooklyn, NY Ronald Brownell, Raloid Tool Co Inc., Stillwater, NY David Dodds, Dodds & Associates LLC, Manlius, NY Efrain Gorre Efrain Gorre, Continental Trading and Services, Syosset, NY Michael Gilly, Clean Up Your Books, Corning, NY Ricky Gordon, Deeds Not Words LLC, Brooklyn, NY Patrick Hall, Élan Flowers, New York, NY Carolyn Harvey, All God's Promises, Brooklyn, NY Henrietta M Kwateng, Mail N' Parcel Inc., Nanuet, NY Jovino Morales, Lafayette Services Inc., Buffalo, NY Olu Olojede, Jedol Associates Inc., West Hempstead, NY Jane Parmel, Cardinal Profit Strategies, Rockaway Park, NY Liliana Petrova, The Petrova Experience LLC, Brooklyn, NY Srinivasan Rangarajan, Boomi Environmental LLC, New York, NY Ohio Tim DeHart, Triple A Pro Services, Franklin, OH Chris Fluharty, Fluharty Construction, Mentor, OH Todd Hamblin, Global Aerospace Design Corp, Cincinnati, OH Lois Jones-Ellis, Jones Rehab Inc., Canton, OH John Keller, Manning & Associates CPAs LLC, Dayton, OH Anne Zimmerman, Zimmerman & Co CPAs, Cincinnati, OH Oregon Aimee Iverson, Iverson-Miller Audio Productions LLC , Portland, OR Lillian Stevenson, Berrien Concrete LLC, Salem, OR Oklahoma Karen Kemper, BlueMoon Gliders, Afton, OK Rose Washington-Jones, Tulsa Economic Development Corporation, Tulsa, OK Pennsylvania William Belknap, AEONRG LLC, Downingtown, PA Raymond Drago, Drive Systems Technology Inc., Glen Mills, PA Richard Green, Green's Auto Mart Inc., Towanda, PA Walter Rowen , Susquehanna Glass Co., Columbia, PA Lisa Weissbord, William J. Beck & Co., Philadelphia, PA Puerto Rico Luis Cordero Toledo, Campo Alegre Dairy Inc., Arecibo, PR South Carolina Cynthia Everette, ABC Locksmiths LLC, Greenville, SC Kelly Shaver, MindCette LLC, Charleston, SC Tennessee Christine Greenwood, Memphis Southern School of Court Reporting LLC, Memphis, TN Scott Shepherd, Shepherd Fitness LLC, Ooltewah, TN Texas Ivan Benard, Houston, TX April Blair, Blair Precision & Assoc Inc., Dallas, TX Tess Cahigas, Seniors 2000 Health and Activities Centers, San Antonio, TX Micau Chambless, Precision Assured Manufacturing, Austin, TX Diane Cooper, Self, Azle, TX Coretta Graham, Graham Legal Services, Corpus Christi, TX Jennifer Holm, Challenges and Change PLLC, McAllen, TX Janice Jucker, Three Brothers Bakery, Houston, TX Martin Linares, Linares Machine Services, South Houston, TX Elizabeth Mack, The Thrival Company, Austin, TX Rebecca Melancon, Local Business Institute, Austin, TX Mark Olinger, The Big Bear Group LLC, Pittsburg, TX Adam Orman, L'Oca d'Oro, Austin, TX Utah William Fisher, Fisher Writing and Editing Services, Salt Lake City, UT Kevin Overby, K&S Plumbing, Salt Lake City, UT Virginia Robert Jack, BeNimble Consulting LLC, Mineral, VA Carlisle Levine, BLE Solutions LLC, Arlington, VA James Oyler, GEN, Roanoke, VA Jason Smith, Absolute EMC LLC, Manassas Park, VA Ta-Neha Smith, Nehastylzz, Richmond, VA Michelle Whitted, Harmony Business Solutions, Stafford, VA Washington David Bergeron, Art Works Auto LLC, University Place, WA Jill Nelson, WunderPetz Pet Care, Vancouver, WA Mary Ann Van Dinter, Car Emporium of Spokane, Spokane, WA West Virginia Dee Nazzaro, Dr. Dee Nazzaro PLLC, Wheeling, WV Wisconsin Kelly Berry, Learn Start Grow LLC, Altoona, WI Daniel Guerra Jr, Altus Inc., Madison, WI Hugo Ramirez, Frio LLC, Appleton, WI

Christmas Cancelled on Main Street? 74% of Small Business Owners Fear They Won’t Survive the Year as Make-or-Break Holiday Season Begins New national survey finds that among holiday-dependent small businesses, 76% say customers have less money to spend and 66% expect worse sales as tariffs, soaring healthcare costs, and persistent inflation drive affordability crisis that dampens demand WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 19, 2025 – A new Small Business for America’s Future survey reveals a crisis on Main Street as small business owners enter the holiday season facing mounting economic pressures. Washington policymakers have compounded the crisis by failing to address soaring healthcare costs and persistent inflation while actively making economic conditions worse through erratic tariff policies and a six-week government shutdown that delivered no relief. “For too many small businesses across America, Christmas is cancelled this year, and Washington has given Main Street a lump of coal,” said Gabe Hagen, owner of Brick Road Community Corporation, a coffee roasting company in Tempe, Arizona. “We’re heading into our most critical season not with optimism but with fear. Fear that our customers can’t afford to spend, fear that policy failures are crushing our ability to compete, and fear that we won’t survive another year of this economic squeeze.” The survey of 1,048 small business owners paints a stark picture. Twenty-one percent of respondents are currently concerned about having to close their business entirely and as they look ahead, the alarm deepens: 74% are worried about their business surviving through the next 12 months. Six in 10 describe the business climate this holiday season as unfavorable, and 59% expect sales to be worse this holiday season compared to last year. The crisis is even more acute for businesses in sectors that depend heavily on holiday season success. Among the 334 small businesses surveyed that are in retail, food & beverages, entertainment, transportation, and advertising/marketing, 80% are concerned about surviving the next 12 months. Three-quarters (76%) say their customers have less money to spend compared to last year, and two-thirds (66%) expect worse holiday sales than last year. The very businesses that need strong holiday sales to survive the year are facing the steepest headwinds. A Make-or-Break Season Arrives at the Worst Possible Time Traditionally, the holiday season has been the moment when many small businesses go from red to black in their books—the crucial business quarter that determines whether they finish the year in profit or at a loss. Nearly 8 in 10 small businesses say this upcoming holiday season is important for their overall profit this year, up from 70% last year, and the majority rely on holiday shopping for at least one-quarter of their annual revenue. With 98% of retailers being small businesses, the next two months will be especially consequential for Main Street. “We’re not entering this crucial season with confidence. We’re arriving battered by a year of policy decisions that have pressured us from every direction," Hagen said. “Now we face a holiday season where our customers are suffering from the same affordability crisis we are. Tariffs drive up our costs and their prices. Inflation means every input we buy costs more and every household budget is stretched thinner. Healthcare premiums are about to spike in January. It’s a vicious cycle, and the result is predictable: businesses like ours can’t survive when our customers can’t afford to spend.” The survey reveals how the affordability crisis is crushing small businesses right when they need customers most: Customers can’t afford to spend: 68% of small business owners report their customers have less money to spend compared to last year. As prices rise due to tariffs and inflation, customers are stretched thin and focusing on essentials—not holiday shopping. Demand is collapsing: 58% of businesses report decreased demand for their products or services compared to last year, with nearly one-third saying demand has decreased significantly. Small businesses are losing customers who simply can’t afford what they’re selling. Tariffs forcing hard choices: 72% of small businesses have been impacted by tariffs, either forced to raise prices and lose customers to larger retailers (25%) or absorb costs that shrink profit margins (35%). Another 71% expect tariffs to negatively impact consumer spending this holiday season. Small Business Growth Grinds to a Halt The economic climate has frozen growth on Main Street. The survey reveals that expansion and hiring have virtually stopped: Only 5% of small businesses are actively hiring and expanding. 15% have put growth and hiring plans on hold. 16% are cutting back on staff or operations. 21% are concerned about having to close their business. Just 9% plan to hire or expand in the next six months. Notably, 65% of survey respondents have operated their businesses for more than 10 years, so they have seen many business cycles. And 57% are pessimistic about the economy for small businesses over the next year, with 38% very pessimistic. "Small businesses employ nearly half the people in this country. We are the backbone of the American economy, and our success is everyone’s success. But right now, soaring healthcare costs, inflation, and tariff pressure are raising prices and threatening our very existence. When small businesses are struggling to survive, millions of jobs, families, and communities are at risk,” said Co-chair Anne Zimmerman, founder and owner of Zimmerman & Co CPAs Inc. in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio. “Congress needs to focus on policies that will actually help us. That means extending the ACA tax credits so businesses and their employees aren’t hit with massive healthcare cost spikes. The Supreme Court needs to strike down these tariff policies that are crushing small businesses. And Washington needs to stop adding dysfunction and start addressing the real problems facing Main Street. When small businesses succeed, everyone benefits. But when Washington’s policies cancel Christmas for Main Street, entire communities suffer.” The national survey of 1,048 small business owners in the Small Business for America’s Future network was conducted from Oct. 24-Nov. 5, 2025. To request an interview with Small Business for America’s Future leadership or a small business owner in your area, contact Janel Knight Trulear at janel@emccommunications.com or 617-875-6581. ### About Small Business for America’s Future Small Business for America’s Future is a national coalition of business owners and leaders working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We’re committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize Main Street by advancing a just and equitable economic framework that works for small business owners, their employees, and their communities. For more information, visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook . #SmallBizAF.