What are the major problems for small businesses in your town?

[Heatman]

Managing and running a business is not an easy task because if it were easy, so many people will definitely have a business of their own. Now, in your country, what are the likely challenges that most small business owners face which can setback their businesses?

 

[Juneberry]

I don't really know much about business, but I do know that with how many chain and large stores there generally are in my area, it can be pretty hard for smaller businesses. I personally tend to prefer certain small businesses, however- especially the pharmacy I use.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Out here there is a severe labor shortage. It's a huge problem and many businesses are forced to shut down because they just can't find the people. Canada has let in hundreds of thousands of Syrians, Afgans, and Ukrainians but it still isn't nearly enough. I got a *HUGE* signing bonus to move up here (from Montana) and my move was 100% paid for.

 

[DrLeftover]

In Illinois the obstacle is state and local permits, fees, and taxes.

Which is why every business that can is moving out.

 

[Black Angel]

For some of my town, it appears to be political unintended consequences. Where I live now is pretty red.. and there are a few business owners who supported Trump largely because of his racist and xenophobic rhethoric against the undocumented..

So they had their fun and relished in that, and repeated all of the racist slogans while also forgetting that they were demonizing the very people who did the lionshare of the work for their business and also, losing them because of the policies they supported. Some left because of the toxicity, others were deported conveniently after their boss decided not to pay them and instead had them deported when they complained and these people are now struggling.. and apparently it is affecting the farms as well. What's sad is that it took them losing everything for them to realize the impact undocumented workers had on their success.

It has been enlightening to say the least, because even though they probably don't support Trump anymore, they also don't have anyone they can hire to do the same work these people once did, and for the same pay rate. I mean, they metaphorically bit the hand that fed them. Unless they hire their own family for free, they probably won't find anyone willing to do all of that work for free.

I have worked with these people at my previous jobs over the years and I will tell you that in most cases you wouldn't be able to buy a bottle of Coke from a vending machine on what they are paid, and that is not even taking into account the b.s. fees they have to pay to the so-called job agencies that got them their jobs.. as well as the extra fee to take ESL classes at a for profit school.

I mean it really is fucked up how exploited these people are by both the business owners, coyotes (traffickers) and our government, as they pay the most in taxes, while getting the least in return for it.. but as bad as that is, you would have to be really stupid to talk shit about the very people that is literally running your business from the ground up.

I feel bad that these people are out of work, and I hope that they can start their own businesses, and I have seen that some of them already have, (which is awesome because it shows how resilient they are) or at least find work from someone else that doesn't treat them like slaves, but I don't feel bad for the toxic business owners who lost out. Loose lips do sink ships.. and chances are, they were probably warned by their friends and family before it all fell on deaf ears.. but for them, the cruelty was the point.

I am looking forward to the new businesses that will be coming to the area.. some of the new businesses started by the formerly undocumented are restaurants and it is why some of my favorite cuisines from NYC, are now up here too..

 

[Kennysplash]

Continual increase in costs for retailers? Between January and now tens of businesses (especially small scale) have shut down. Everything increases on a daily basis, and it affects every business. They have to restock their products with the profits from the ones they sold out.
It became an endless vicious cycle.

 

[MrDawn]

In Illinois the obstacle is state and local permits, fees, and taxes.

Which is why every business that can is moving out.

We're having the same issues where I live.

A lot of local business' are going out and their biggest reason is taxes, more taxes, Inflation, complaints about people not eating out as much because of Inflation, and the occasional blame towards this man:

 

[Nebulous]

A lot of local business' are going out

Same here, every other building in my area is boarded up.