Small businesses say they are already feeling the pain of tariffs: survey

New York Post

2 days ago

Small business owners say they face mounting pressure from tariffs — which have exacerbated existing struggles with gaining access to new funding because of policy uncertainty, according to a Goldman Sachs survey released Thursday.
More than a third of small businesses (36%) said they feel negatively impacted by tariffs, with another 38% anticipating adverse effects in the future, the study found.
Of those impacted or expecting impacts, a striking 77% of small business owners attribute their concerns primarily to the uncertainty stoked by President Trump's tariff policies, the survey found.
4 Small business owners surveyed by Goldman Sachs say they face mounting pressures from tariffs.
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The survey was done by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices — the Wall Street firm's national advocacy initiative designed to help entrepreneurs engage directly with policymakers.
The results underscore challenges posed by Trump's constantly changing tariffs.
The administration has imposed a universal 10% levy on most nations, while hitting major trading partner China with a 30% tariff, while it negotiates better deals with all the countries.
There are also additional 25% tariffs on imported automobiles and car parts and a 50% levy on steel.
Jessica Johnson-Cope, who runs the Bronx-based private security firm Johnson Security Bureau, noted the pressing reality facing small firms.
The third-generation business provides services on construction sites, a sector sensitive to fluctuating trade policies.
'I anticipate that the prices of uniforms will increase because our vendors import them,' Johnson-Cope told The Post via email.
4 More than a third of small businesses (36%) are already feel negatively impacted by tariffs with another 38% anticipating adverse effects in the future.
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'I also expect a big hit when we purchase a new armored truck. Had we purchased it last year, a new truck would have cost approximately $150,000. Now, the price will probably be closer to $200,000.'
She said tariffs are causing direct disruptions through increased prices as well as indirect challenges through delayed projects.
'Some of our construction customers are postponing pending projects until there is a greater level of certainty around the tariffs,' she said.
The uncertainty over trade policy is compounded by broader anxieties centered around access to capital.
The survey reported that 81% of small businesses seeking loans or credit lines in the past year encountered difficulty securing affordable financing.
High interest rates have led 49% of small businesses to halt expansions and 41% to restrict new business endeavors, the survey found.
4 President Trump has argued that tariffs are necessary to spur domestic manufacturing.
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Johnson-Cope detailed a personal experience illustrating these struggles.
'Several years ago, a slow-paying client nearly bankrupted us. Without access to affordable capital, we had to take out a high-interest loan just to stay afloat,' she told The Post.
'That expensive debt limited our ability to grow — we couldn't expand or pursue new opportunities, and our future growth was effectively stalled.'
Tax policy complexities further compound these challenges, with 82% of small business owners believing the federal tax code favors large corporations.
Johnson-Cope and her peers call for straightforward, predictable policies, highlighting that 'when the tax code is overly complex or constantly changing, it makes long-term planning difficult.'
Despite these considerable obstacles, optimism persists.
The Goldman survey showed that 75% of small businesses remain upbeat about their trajectory, with 72% forecasting growth in 2025.
Many are incorporating artificial intelligence to boost efficiency, although 42% lack the resources and expertise for successful deployment, according to the survey.
4 Despite uncertainty surrounding tariffs, three in four small business owners say they anticipate growth this year.
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Johnson-Cope told The Post that addressing tariffs, capital access and tax simplicity is crucial.
She emphasized the critical need for small businesses to have a consistent voice in policymaking.
'Small businesses are the engine of the American economy. We are job creators, innovators, and the heartbeat of our communities — we deserve for our voices to be heard, not just as a one-off for a single piece of legislation, but day in and day out as policymakers craft ideas that can limit or expand our chance to grow,' Johnson-Cope said.
The Post has sought comment from the White House.