Small business owners in America are being purposely targeted for destruction; there is no way around that conclusion based on all the evidence available. Government interventions through covid-19 related medical directives such as mask mandates and compulsory vaccinations are reeking havoc on day-to-day operations in a variety of industries. Those issues are also causing knock-on effects down stream all the way to point-of-sale.
As a private commercial lender, I see a broad spectrum of industries & business owners and I can say without hesitation that the disruptions are massive yet most if not all of the causes are self-inflicted. Look at the ports in CA for example, they are experiencing record delays - months, not weeks(!) all because of covid-19 restrictions. That's right, they could solve the problem tomorrow by just opening the ports round-the-clock like they used to - or maybe open San Diego ports which for some reason are now closed.
Meanwhile, we are treated to thongs of college football fans (maskless and of unknown infection status) in the tens of thousands crushing up against each other chanting "Let's go Brandon!" whoever that is lol!
The large, big-box operators and government contractors got most of the stimulus ostensibly given to help small businesses - now I have business owners with approved EIDL loans since April 2021 that are still NOT FUNDED. Can you imagine If I approved your company for an unsecured, $350,000 10-year term loan at 3% APR and then took 8 months to fund it???
Since the beginning of the pandemic over 200,000 small businesses have closed permanently - the large stores and online retailers have reaped huge benefits however.
"Even if a small business complies with the passport mandates it will not save them, because the amount of extra costs involved in enforcement will be too much for most of them. Constantly policing customers and employees for up-to-date vaccine cards will become a full time job. Any slip up could mean a $70,000 to $700,000 fine, and because they have already submitted to the passports those businesses will have no backup from the community if they try to refuse to pay. They will ultimately close down anyway." - Brandon Smith
Right now the challenges to running your business are legion but there are also opportunities which, if successfully capitalized will be hugely profitable. Accessing affordable working capital right now is critical to be able to compete for personnel, materials and services.
Here at CAI we honor the personal medical choices of our staff and do not require them engage in medical procedures as a condition of their employment with us. Our staff and outside vendors are the most important part of our business which would not even exist if not for them and their efforts.