According to a survey by Ship4wd, tariffs have become the defining challenge of the current trade environment for U.S. small businesses. Ninety-six percent of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) said tariffs had a direct negative impact on their shipping, sourcing or supply chain in the past year. The same percentage also ranked tariffs as their primary concern for 2026, with 31% bracing for a significant-to-devastating impact.
The findings arrive and land at a moment of acute strain for U.S. small businesses. In March 2026, the National Federation of Independent Business reported that its small business optimism index dropped to 95.8, an 11-month low and below its 52-year average, while its uncertainty index surged well above historical norms. The Ship4wd survey shows exactly where that uncertainty is concentrated: in the supply chain, where tariffs, cost volatility and information gaps are increasing daily.
The business cost of these disruptions goes well beyond operations:
- Sixty-two percent of SMBs report lost revenue or missed sales as a direct consequence of shipping and sourcing problems.
- Around half (51%) experienced customer dissatisfaction or churn, a figure that highlights how supply chain failures ultimately affect the customer relationship.
- Nearly all (99%) of respondents reported experiencing at least one unforeseen disruption in the past year, with 82% dealing with disruptions on a regular or recurring basis.
One of the survey’s most striking findings is the gap between confidence and capability. While 83% of SMBs describe themselves as very or somewhat prepared for supply chain disruptions, only 28% have full real-time visibility into their shipping and sourcing operations. Seventy-two percent are making critical decisions with incomplete information, and 51% of those who claim to have a disruption protocol have never had to put it to the test.
“Small businesses are facing one of the most challenging periods they have ever faced. Shortly after recovering from the impact of COVID, they are struggling with the implications of tariffs, geopolitical uncertainty, and heightened delivery and shipping costs,” said Carmit Glik, CEO of Ship4wd. “In today’s unpredictable freight ecosystem, SMBs are the first to lose, acutely vulnerable to policy changes, unexpected cost increases and disruptions—and our data shows that too many are still navigating these challenges without full visibility into their own operations. To survive and grow, SMBs must move from a reactive logistics and freight posture to a proactive planning strategy: knowing where their goods are, where their suppliers stand, and what their costs will be before problems arise. Real-time visibility and integrated sourcing are no longer a luxury. They are the foundation of SMB agility and resilience.”
