Holly Wade

Executive Director - NFIB Research Center

Small Business Survival Through Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent government actions significantly altered economic conditions for most small business owners. Small business owners responded, quickly adjusting business operations to survive. Massive financial support programs followed to help stabilize the small business sector. The abrupt decline in economic activity was followed by an uneven and stressful recovery that will likely continue for many. Supply chain disruptions and staffing shortages will take time to normalize, but in the meantime, small business owners are forced to absorb higher labor and supply costs, passing on those cost increases to their customers. But how long will this continue and what will be the new normal? These questions remain, creating significant uncertainty in the small business sector.

About Holly Wade

Holly Wade is the executive director of the NFIB Research Center, where she has 17 years of experience conducting original research on the small business sector focusing on small business economic conditions, business operations, and public policy issues impacting small firms. She produces NFIB’s monthly Small Business Economic Trends publication, the Covid-19 Small Business survey series, and surveys on topics related to small business operations. She is also a frequent media spokesperson on the small business economy and related public policy issues. Since 2020, Ms. Wade has been offering a regular webinar series for small business owners nationwide, help owners navigate through the federal loan and tax credit programs. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Business Economics (NABE).