Let me break this down for you: A proposed increase in the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026 is hitting small businesses hard across America. They tell us that they're being forced into a corner where they can't afford not to raise prices, but doing so could push customers away and lead to even more layoffs.

Listen up, because nobody is going to tell you this on CNN: The real issue here isn’t just the $15 figure itself. It’s about how small businesses are expected to absorb these costs while already dealing with skyrocketing rent, insurance hikes, and supply chain disruptions.

Now, think about your local coffee shop or that corner store you’ve been going to for years. They’re not just worried about whether they’ll be able to keep their doors open; they’re sweating bullets over how they’re going to pay their staff and keep shelves stocked without raising prices so high that everyone walks out the door.

And don’t even get me started on what this means for jobs. The Biden-era proposal sounds great in theory, but in practice, it’s leading straight into a recessionary spiral. How many of those minimum wage workers will lose their jobs because small businesses just can't stay open?

The buried number here is the actual impact on employment. It’s not about $15 an hour anymore; it’s about how many people won’t have that job at all once businesses start closing down left and right.

Who benefits from this? Big box stores like Walmart can absorb higher wages, but they’re also less likely to see the same kind of direct impact on their bottom line. Meanwhile, your mom-and-pop places are in real danger.

So, what’s a small business owner supposed to do? Some say it's time for them to start looking at other states with more favorable business climates. Others may have no choice but to cut back and hope they can weather the storm without letting their employees go.