The impact of reproductive health on small businesses

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, reproductive healthcare access has changed dramatically across the country. These changes aren’t just affecting individuals—they’re also impacting small businesses. To develop a deeper understanding of how access to reproductive health services impacts entrepreneurs, Small Business Majority held three focus group discussions in January 2025 with 16 diverse small business owners from across nine states. These 90-minute discussions were facilitated by Small Business Majority’s National Women’s Entrepreneurship Director, Rachel Shanklin, MPH and Dr. Rachel Powell Lewis of Powell Lewis Consulting.

Key findings:

• Business owners say restrictions on reproductive healthcare affects recruitment and retention of employees, as well as the business’ productivity.
• Many small businesses can’t afford to offer comprehensive health insurance, leaving employees without access to critical reproductive services.
• Small business owners are concerned about further limitations and cuts to essential programs under the new administration.
• Entrepreneurs expressed a strong desire to advocate for reproductive rights and emphasized the need for better education and resources.