Tariffs Are Hitting Every Corner of Small Business—Even Your Local Coffee Shop

A small coffee roaster in Ohio is facing a reality many small businesses know well: rising tariff costs with no room to absorb them.

As they explain:

“We are a small coffee roaster in Ohio. We had to eat much of our cost increases. We ended up spending 67% more in inventory cost for green coffee but ended of the year with 40% less inventory. Not only did the tariffs increase our cost of goods, but the impact of the tariffs on the secondary market were devastating to our business. Tariffs impacted our packaging, green coffee, and other significant supply items.”

Unlike large corporations, small businesses like this coffee roaster operate on tight margins with little room to absorb sudden cost increases. And yet—that’s exactly what they’ve had to do.

They didn’t pass the costs on. They couldn’t simply adjust pricing overnight. Instead, they absorbed higher costs across nearly every part of their supply chain—from raw inputs like green coffee to packaging and other essential materials.

This is what tariffs look like on the ground: not just higher prices, but reduced inventory, tighter margins, and harder decisions about how to keep the business running. And importantly, this impact goes beyond direct tariffs. As this business points out, ripple effects in secondary markets—where prices rise due to broader trade disruptions—can be just as damaging.

If your business has been impacted by tariffs, join thousands of others speaking out. Sign the We Pay the Tariffs refund letter today and help us push for real relief.