Unfazed by Tariffs, Texas Small Businesses Plan to Move Forward, Grow.

As headlines sound alarms over tariffs, Texas small businesses are looking at a bright future of growth and opportunity.

“In the state of Texas, small businesses are doing extremely well,” declared Glenn Hamer with the Texas Association of Businesses. “We have the best policy environment to encourage small business formation and success in the country.”

A new survey by JP Morgan Chase says small businesses across the country are changing and adapting in challenging times but that 56 percent of Houston area small businesses are in "growth mode."

After COVID, Chase analysts say small businesses have learned to confront uncertain times by innovating rather than retreating.

Texas businesses also move into the future with the strong tailwind of a supportive state government. “This Texas legislative session is shaping up to be the best session ever for small businesses,” Hamer said.

The most dramatic improvement may be the most “inside baseball” for business finances, the dramatic raising of the inventory exemption from $2500 to $125,000, which effectively gives businesses a $2500 tax cut right out of the gate.

“That’s a huge deal for small businesses. Not only will it lower their taxes. But also, importantly, they aren’t going to have to worry about figuring out all the phones, paper clips, computers, all those things. It’s not only going to be tax relief  it’s going to mean less regulatory burden as well.”

Hamer says small businesses are keeping a watchful eye on the tariff debate in Washington. He says their ideal would be no tariffs at all, but he’s hopeful the Trump Administration playing hardball on trade will get Texas businesses more fair treatment in foreign markets than they’ve seen in the past.

“Texas wins with trade,” he said, “and we’re going to have more opportunities to sell, semiconductors, beef, other goods and services that have made us the export powerhouse of America.”