In 2025, small businesses will face a mixture of opportunities and challenges in the evolution of the economic landscape of the United States. While the economy continues to grow, inflation and regulatory uncertainty remain key concerns for business owners nationally.
In this update of the small business, Neil BradleyExecutive vice-president, director of policies and head of strategic advocacy at the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, offered an overview of critical problems on small businesses this year. Bradley’s conversation with Jeanette Mulvey, vice-president and editor-in-chief of CO—, offers a roadmap for the success of small businesses during the coming year.
Navigate the economy and regulatory changes as a small business
Small businesses face a particularly uncertain regulatory environment under the new administration. The arrangements expired of 2017 tax reductions law could result in significant tax increases for the taxation year of 2025 unless they are extended. The Trump administration, however, reduces regulatory charges in other areas, which, according to Bradley, will finally benefit businesses.
“We are going … see a significant decline in the regulatory burden imposed on businesses,” said Bradley, who cited labor laws, overtime rules and access to credit as examples of the place where this is likely to happen.
The economy will remain a challenge for small businesses in 2025. Bradley noted that inflation has slowed down to previous years, but small businesses are still faced with the rise in prices.
“We had a fairly happy new year in terms of global economic growth … And although we were able to lower the price increase rate, prices are always … increased faster than we want,” said Bradley. “I think our greatest challenge economically in 2025 is to complete the fight against inflation.”
(Find out more: 5 strategies of inflation of small businesses))
Meanwhile, high interest rates imposed to combat inflation have an impact on the loan costs of small businesses and access to capital.
“Interest rates (high) … make the cost of capital … more expensive,” said Bradley. “It also means that the interest you can gain in deposits … is higher, and therefore it tends to be an incentive to reduce loans. There is generally less credit in the economy. »»
Bradley advised small businesses to remain proactive on upcoming regulatory changes, to work with professional advisers to identify the potential impacts on their businesses and plan in advance to minimize surprises.
Adapt to shortages and labor prices
Industries such as retail, health care, hospitality and construction increases quickly, creating many opportunities for expanding small businesses. However, demographic changes and baby-boomer pensions continue to create talent gaps.
Bradley underlined the need for immigration reform to develop the labor market.
“Your ability to extend your business, … (and) responding to consumer demand today is limited by your lack of workers,” he said. “We … need more people with legal work authorizations to be able to work in the United States, and … this means increasing legal immigration.”
I think that our greatest challenge economically in 2025 is to finish the fight against inflation.
Neil Bradley, executive vice-president, director of policies and head of strategic advocacy, American chamber of commerce
Another challenge for 2025 is the potential expansion of prices, in particular for small businesses that depend on international supply chains. Bradley explained that prices add a “tax” on imported products before even reaching the market, which ultimately increases the prices of companies and consumers.
Bradley encouraged small businesses to prepare for potential changes in the Trump administration by assessing their supply chains.
“Can you always afford the product?” Can you transmit costs? Can you get the product elsewhere? He advised.
Preparing rapid changes in pricing policies helps companies minimize disturbances and protect their net profit.
The opportunities and challenges of the adoption of AI
Small businesses are increasingly exploiting artificial intelligence for productivity and innovation, in particular in customer management, design and operational efficiency. Bradley cited a 2024 Us Chamber Survey This has revealed that 40% of companies directly use a generative AI in their daily operations (compared to 23% in 2023), and many others use programs built on AI.
“If you use a … system to manage your customer database (or) do your targeted advertising, the services you use use AI in the background. Thus, practically all small American companies today use AI, “he said.
Bradley has expressed his concern about the pending AI regulations, such as those of Colorado and Texas, motivated by the uncertainty and fear of the implications of technology. He warned that the proposals allowing customers to withdraw from the AI -oriented services could force companies to maintain expensive and obsolete systems alongside those who feed AI.
“There are (there are) a lot of erroneous ideas, especially at the level of the state, which, I think, could be really harmful,” added Bradley.
(Find out more: 6 ways that can stimulate your small business))
Encourage optimism and resilience for small businesses
Despite the challenges that 2025 can take up, there are many reasons to be optimistic as a small business. Bradley underlined the resilience, innovation and determination of small businesses in the face of these obstacles.
“I am amazed by the number of small businesses that only open or growth,” said Bradley. “I am impressed by this optimism and this dynamism that exists in the community of small businesses.”
Expanding the remarks of the president of the American room Suzanne Clark at the 2025 US affairs statementBradley highlighted the essential role of small businesses in the ecosystem of wider companies and why small and large companies need each other to prosper.
“We need innovation, entrepreneurship, flexibility that really shines in small American businesses, but we also need the scale and the ability to achieve national and global customer bases that Large American companies create, “said Bradley. “It is an ecosystem that … we are proud to represent.”
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