Small-business owners are already burned out. Many see trouble ahead.

Between record inflation, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, supply chain challenges and the labor crunch, small-business owners are burned out. About 72% of more than 1,000 small business owners surveyed by technology platform Podium said they were burned out. About 48% cited inflation and another 39% said rising gas prices were the top threats to their business. It’s a trend that spans across a number of industries, from restaurants and retailers to startup founders. The trend could have significant implications. A 2021 survey by the International Business Brokers Association found burnout was becoming a major factor for owners selling their businesses.