Survey shows Pa. small businesses have strong tariff fears

Trade policy and tariffs have U.S. small business owners are growing increasingly anxious about their financial future, according to a new report from the small business network platform, Alignable.  

In a recent survey, it found that 44% of small and medium business owners say they expect reduced sales due to tariffs—up 3 percentage points from March and 14 points from February.  

Of those, 13% anticipate significant revenue drops. 

According to the April report, Pennsylvania is among the states with the largest percentage of business owners worried about declining revenue/ 

In Pennsylvania 52% of SMBs expressed concerns over how tariffs could impact their sales. That’s up from 41% in March. 

And the concern isn’t just forward-looking. More than 25% of small businesses report they’re already experiencing tariff-related declines in sales. 

These findings were based on 4,441 responses from randomly selected U.S. small business owners surveyed between March 22 and April 1.  

This survey was conducted just prior to President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcements. And so Alignable said it is likely that these findings represent only the beginning of a growing trend, which is expected to accelerate as new trade measures take effect. 

Meanwhile, 38% of business owners believe tariffs will have no impact—a 12-point increase from last month, though still below the 40% mark in February’s report.  

While many respondents referenced the short-term pain caused by tariffs, some expressed hope for a longer-term revival of domestic industries, more resilient supply chains, and broader economic benefits for the middle class. 

The small businesses surveyed showed a variety of concerns. 

Over 50% say they can’t negotiate lower prices with suppliers to offset tariff costs and that domestic alternatives often cost 25% or more and take six months or longer to source. 

Meanwhile, nearly 20% report that no viable domestic supplier options exist. 

Of those surveyed, 68% expect continued trade policy uncertainty through April, and 42% foresee ongoing uncertainty lasting through the end of 2025. 

“Tariffs are taking a serious toll on a growing number of small businesses, and the pressure is only mounting,” said Eric Groves, Alignable’s co-founder and CEO. “But there are clear, proactive steps owners can take—like strengthening domestic supplier networks, adjusting pricing strategies, and leveraging trusted relationships—to combat these challenges and build resilience.” 

Industries expressing the most concern include 

• Retail – 57% (up from 54%) 

• Restaurants – 54% (up from 45%) 

• Travel/Lodging – 54% (up from 39%) 

• Construction – 53% (up from 45%) 

• Transportation – 53% (up from 47%)