Over the past several months, Small Business Majority hosted five roundtable discussions with nearly 50 small business owners in Cortland, Long Island, Queens and Manhattan focusing on many of the biggest challenges small businesses are facing today, including rising healthcare costs, unpredictable tariffs, rising inflation and unaffordable living, difficulty accessing capital, workforce shortages and childcare access. The entrepreneurs also shared how running a business in 2026 can require mental and physical sacrifice as these challenges continue to escalate. 

Small businesses are navigating a sharp squeeze on Main Street, according to Small Business Majority’s latest Voice of Main Street poll released on March 25, 2026. Most entrepreneurs report rising expenses alongside falling revenues, with costs driven by tariffs, healthcare premiums, utilities, and supplies. At the same time, many say weak consumer demand, difficulty meeting payroll, and concerns about corporate consolidation are limiting growth and forcing tough choices—from raising prices to delaying hiring and investment.

On November 13, 2025, Small Business Majority released a research report examining the challenges small businesses face from rising healthcare premiums and increased immigration enforcement. The survey found that two-thirds of small business owners view higher healthcare costs as a significant financial burden and strongly support extending the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits. Entrepreneurs also reported negative effects from immigration enforcement and expressed strong support for modernizing the legal immigration system and creating pathways to citizenship for qualifying undocumented immigrants.

The State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) represents a critical federal investment in U.S. small businesses. Originally established under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and reauthorized under the American Rescue Plan in 2021, SSBCI provides states, territories and tribal governments with federal funding to incentivize small business lending. Through a range of programs, SSBCI helps ensure that entrepreneurs have access to the capital they need to launch and sustain their businesses. Our research and interviews with small business owners highlight both the successes and the challenges of the program. Based on these findings, we also developed recommendations to help states maximize SSBCI’s impact and ensure that dollars flow to the smallest and most under-resourced entrepreneurs who need them most.