The dream of expanding my ice cream business just got shelved – indefinitely. And I’m not alone. Across America, small business owners are battening down the hatches as our economy contracted by 0.3% in Q1 2025, our first downturn in three years.
This isn’t just another economic statistic. This is my life and the livelihood of countless entrepreneurs like me who are now forced by erratic tariff policies to abandon growth plans, work longer hours, and absorb costs we can barely afford. A recent Small Business for America’s Future survey reveals 79% of us now fear recession within the next year. Those fears aren’t theoretical; they’re sitting on our balance sheets and keeping us up at night.
I know exactly how they feel. I had concrete plans to expand with a food truck alongside my ice cream shops, Frio Mexican Treats in Appleton and Neenah, Wisconsin. I had permits secured and contracts ready, but I’ve been forced to postpone this dream indefinitely to conserve capital.
Current trade uncertainty makes it nearly impossible to plan for our future. The tariffs have significantly disrupted our supply chain and increased operational costs.
We source our ice cream cups from China because domestic options are prohibitively expensive with longer lead times. Even before these tariffs, international shipping was already costly. Now we’re paying an additional $300–$400 per shipment for shipping alone, nearly equaling the cost of the products themselves. On top of that, the cost of ice cream cups themselves has jumped by 25-30%, turning what was once a $72 case into a $95 case after tariffs and fees.
These mounting pressures force small business owners like me into impossible choices. I’m working additional hours rather than scheduling staff, selectively adjusting prices while trying to shield customers from the full impact, and modifying our menu to maintain customer loyalty.
We’re purchasing inventory at the maximum level our finances allow to minimize future cost increases.
Unlike large ice cream chains that can pass price increases directly to consumers while still benefiting from bulk purchasing power, small operations like mine have limited buying capacity.
We absorb much of this impact because we understand our customers already face rising prices across the board.
Small business owners like me need coherent economic policies that provide stability. We’re not asking for special treatment – we just need predictability.We want to focus on serving our communities, creating jobs, and driving economic growth from the ground up. Main Street businesses deserve an economic environment where planning for the future feels possible again.
Hugo Ramirez is the owner of Frio Mexican Treats in Appleton, Wisconsin, and a member of the Small Business for America’s Future Network. The SBAF is a national coalition of business owners and leaders working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org, follow it on Twitter and Facebook. #SmallBizAF, or email [email protected].
