Ongoing Iran war increases costs and disrupts US small businesses

Business Apr 02, 2026

The ongoing Iran war is hitting US small businesses hard, making everything from shipping to supplies more expensive and unpredictable.
Owners are juggling higher costs and delivery headaches.
Brandon Fried from the Airforwarders Association even called it a perfect storm for disruptions.

Shipping costs reach $7,000 per container

California's Nichols Farms can't get pistachios out because shipments are stranded.
Birchbury, a footwear brand, has seen shipping costs from Vietnam double to $7,000 per container.
Even local shops like Jake Wilson's lawn care in Kansas City are stockpiling fertilizer before prices go up.
In Chicago, electronics retailer Abt is worried about keeping free delivery as fuel costs climb, reminding folks of pandemic-era struggles all over again.