The Small Businesses That Built America

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Let's welcome the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's year‑long series celebrating the entrepreneurs and enterprises that have shaped the nation’s economy over 250 years. 

From colonial‑era craftsmen to today’s tech innovators, U.S. small businesses have fueled growth, creativity, and community across every generation of American life.

Throughout the year, the CoC spotlights historic companies, iconic brands that started small, and the modern founders carrying that legacy forward. 

Join them as we all honor the small businesses that built America – and continue to build its future.

Tariffs According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

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According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a tariff is a tax on imported goods paid by the U.S. business or individual receiving those goods at their port of entry. Broad-based tariffs raise prices for consumers and businesses and harm economic growth. They cause uncertainty and disrupt supply chains and are an especially big problem for small businesses that don’t have as many resources to withstand them. 

Learn more - the state of the economy, workforce, tariffs, the permitting process and the state of American business.

Reopening Business USA

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As America’s businesses look to reopen safely and keep employees and customers healthy and informed, employers are facing countless new questions and unprecedented new challenges.

As part of the Path Forward initiative through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, this Digital Resources Center provides the latest state guidelines, sector-specific guidance, small business advice, and other tools and resources to help employers and employees return to work safely and successfully.

Challenges and Opportunities to Selling Internationally

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With global growth comes new challenges that small businesses have to learn how to navigate. The uncertainty around trade agreements worldwide and escalating tariffs between the U.S. and China are hindering the growth American entrepreneurs are seeing in these markets.

That said, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sat down with four small business owners to better understand the opportunities and challenges to selling internationally. Here are some of the key takeaways from the discussion – from what's hot in export markets, to long-term trade agreements, to IP protection – it's all here.

Tune In: It's National Small Business Week 5/12-5/16

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With the United States having more than 28 million small businesses, it's easy to understand how and why we honor these hard-working individuals who create jobs, spur economic growth and develop innovative measures to improve our world.  That said, there will be lots of excitement, conversations and celebrations around this important week - from SBA to the White House to well ... all the companies who salute the crucial role that small businesses play in our lives.  The national celebrations will be held in four major venues: San Francisco, May 12; Kansas City, May 13; Boston, May 15; and Washington, D.C., May 15-16.

Check out some of the activities and conversations below.

•  The White House Blog
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/05/12/national-small-business-week-starts-today

•  Statement by the President of the United States on National Small Business Week:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/12/statement-president-national-small-business-week

•  SBA.gov
http://www.sba.gov/community/blogs/official-sba-news-and-views/open-business/national-small-business-week-starts-today

•  National Small Business Week site:
http://www.sba.gov/nsbw/

•  National Small Business Week 2014 - A Celebration of the Accomplishments of Small Business - U.S. Chamber of Commerce
https://www.uschamber.com/blog/national-small-business-week-2014-celebration-accomplishments-small-business

•  Small Business Week - National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
http://www.nfib.com/small-business-week/

•  Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council)
http://www.sbecouncil.org/2014/05/12/small-business-week-2014-needs-to-spark-bipartisanship-to-help-entrepreneurs-says-small-business-advocate/

Let's continue to support and celebrate small businesses every day!

Small Businesses Thrive in the International Marketplace (Video)

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A video, "Small Businesses That Are Thriving in the International Marketplace," features three small business owners (noted below) who reveal why foreign trade is vital to the growth and success of their companies. The video underscores the importance of trade and highlights how small businesses are engaged in the global economy.

Each of the companies also share how they are able to export their products to highly competitive markets such as Mexico and China.

1. Drew Greenblat of Marlin Steel
2. Roy Paulson of Paulson Manufacturing
3. Robert Patton of Patton Electronics

WATCH the video here.

And there's more!

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also updated its TradeSupportsJobs.com, an interactive site that shows how exports drive economic growth and support jobs in all 50 states and all 435 congressional districts. The site breaks down the value of exports to every state by total dollar amount, by industry sector, and by the number of jobs directly supported by exports.

The United States of Small Businesses

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America's 5th Annual Small Business Summit is underway this week and already we learned that one of the breakout sessions focused on how to do business internationally. Interestingly enough, the moderator for that session, Leslie Schweitzer, is a friend and colleague of mine. She serves as one of our many talented contributors on Women Entrepreneurs GROW Global (WEGG) which The Global Small Business Blog sponsors. Additionally, she was a panelist in Chicago a couple of years ago when I moderated a discussion on the very same subject of going global.

Great quote from Leslie:

One of the misconceptions of trade is that the only beneficiaries of trade are large companies, and that's not true. 97% of international traders are small businesses.

Read more about what went on during the international business session here.

Globally Protect Your Property

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The mission of the Global Intellectual Property Center, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is to champion intellectual property as vital to creating jobs, saving lives, advancing global economic growth, and generating breakthrough solutions to global challenges.

Find out more here.

Check out the "Fight the Fakes" poster contest here.

Global Trade Toolkit

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Thinking of exporting or expanding into new markets? It's a great time to get started! Ninety-six percent of the world's consumers live outside of the United States and free trade agreements are opening new markets for U.S. businesses everyday.

Here's a GREAT way to get started in the trade export process.

And listen in on this interview about strategies small businesses can implement to go global.