Think of your local corner store or family-owned restaurant as a single parent trying to raise a child. Now imagine the government suddenly telling this parent they must pay thousands more in rent every month — with no explanation why.

This is exactly what’s happening to small business owners across America, who are facing an onslaught of new federal mandates on workplace safety and environmental compliance that are making it increasingly difficult for them to stay afloat. According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), these regulations represent a significant financial burden, often running into tens of thousands of dollars per year.

The Obama-era administration rolled out several initiatives aimed at promoting health and safety standards in workplaces and reducing environmental impact. However, small business owners argue that while these intentions are laudable, the implementation has been overly bureaucratic and costly for businesses already operating on thin profit margins.

“It’s like trying to run a marathon with an extra 50 pounds strapped around your waist,” says Mary Thompson, owner of a small bakery in Denver. “We’re trying our best, but these new rules just add too much weight.”

To put it simply: if you had to pay an additional $20,000 per year for rent on top of what you already owe, could your household budget handle that? This is the kind of strain many small business owners are facing.

Many owners feel they have no choice but to comply with these rules or face fines and legal consequences. But compliance means cutting corners elsewhere – reducing employee hours, laying off staff, closing early. It’s a vicious cycle that threatens not just their businesses, but the entire community that relies on them.

I did not want to believe this was happening until I started hearing from my own students’ parents about how their local shops were shutting down due to these mandates. Now, as an educator turned small business advocate, I see firsthand how each closure affects families and communities.

My late husband used to say that when you look after the little guy, everyone benefits. But if we let these regulations strangle our smallest businesses, who will be left to serve our neighborhoods?

Last night, I stayed up thinking about this. My mind raced with all the small business owners out there whose hard work is being stifled by red tape and soaring costs. They’re not asking for handouts; they’re pleading just to stay in the game.

Please share this article if you believe we need to protect our local businesses from unnecessary regulatory burdens. We owe it to each other, especially to the next generation who may lose their mom-and-pop stores forever.