We’re now 16 days into the federal government shutdown, and small business owners across the country are starting to feel the pinch. It’s not one big blow; it’s more like death by a thousand paper cuts. A few examples:
- The SBA hasn’t processed a 7(a) or 504 loan in over two weeks. That is roughly $100 million in small business financing frozen every day.
- Contractors, suppliers, and local businesses near government hubs are watching foot traffic drop and payments stall.
- In the DC–MD–VA region, the impact is even sharper. During the 2018–19 shutdown, the D.C. metro area lost $119 million per day in revenue.
But, in speaking with business owners around the country, the biggest hit isn’t financial, it’s psychological. Many owners have told me, “We can plan around bad news; we can’t plan around no news. The uncertainty is paralyzing.”
If this shutdown continues through Election Day, which is 22 days from today (10/13), it will be longer than the 2018–19 shutdown (which, at 35 days, was the longest in our history). And no one knows what comes next.
Still, true to form, I am hearing stories of resilience from business owners.
Knowing that the shutdown is temporary, business owners are tightening cash flow, communicating with lenders, and playing the “What If” game.
Some are even finding hidden opportunities. I read about “Shutdown Specials,” in the Washington DC area by retailers and restaurants. Other businesses are finding new customers, or stepping in where government services have stalled.
The message here? Control what you can control.
Uncertainty may dominate the headlines, but adaptability will decide who comes out stronger when the lights finally come back on.
