How small businesses are adapting to rising costs in 2025

As 2025 winds down, small business owners across the country are facing a holiday season unlike any other. Inventory is on the shelves, customers are shopping, but behind the scenes, many are quietly recalculating what it takes to stay afloat. Tariffs that were expected to be temporary have instead stretched into another quarter, reshaping supply chains and forcing small businesses to make tough choices about pricing, staffing, and investment.