With a new administration in place, priorities for the Small Business Administration (SBA) are shifting to better support Main Street entrepreneurs. On the latest episode of The Small Business Show, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler joins us to discuss the changing landscape for small businesses, recent legislative wins, and the path forward under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Loeffler brings a uniquely personal understanding of small business to her role as SBA Administrator. Raised on a fourth-generation family farm and the daughter of a small trucking company owner, Loeffler worked her way through school as a waitress before building and investing in businesses herself.
She emphasizes that small businesses account for 99% of all U.S. companies, playing a vital role in job creation and local economies. “President Trump always says small business is big business,” she noted, reinforcing that the administration views entrepreneurs as central to the American economy.
“[Small businesses] are the backbone of the country.”
The SBA, originally established to help post-World War II veterans launch businesses, now serves through four primary functions: access to capital, business counseling, government contracting, and disaster relief. While many Americans became familiar with the SBA during the pandemic through programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Loeffler highlights that the agency has long been a key player in disaster recovery. For example, after recent Texas floods, the SBA offered homeowner loans up to $500,000 in addition to small business assistance.
Much of the interview focused on the passage of a new economic bill Loeffler called “a working family Main Street bill.” Key benefits for small businesses include:
- Permanent 20% pass-through deduction (Section 199A)
- 100% expensing for capital purchases, incentivizing equipment and factory investment
- No federal tax on tips and overtime, encouraging workforce growth
- An average of $10,000 more take-home pay annually for working families
Loeffler said she has visited 23 states so far, touring factories, restaurants, and shops where business owners are already implementing these provisions, such as upgrading kitchen equipment or expanding production lines.
She also addressed tariffs and trade policy, defending them as critical to restoring domestic manufacturing and leveling the playing field for small exporters. “We’ve created an onshoring portal at SBA.gov with over 1 million American suppliers listed,” she said, encouraging business owners to explore domestic sourcing solutions, even for goods like green tea.
Looking ahead, Loeffler sees deregulation as the next frontier. She explained that nearly $2 trillion in regulations have accumulated in recent years, disproportionately affecting small businesses. With tax cuts in place, inflation down, and trade reform underway, she believes reducing bureaucratic red tape could unlock unprecedented economic opportunity.
And for those wondering if now is the right time to launch a business, Loeffler was clear: “It’s an excellent time. There’s never a perfect time, but there’s no better investment…for your family, your future, and the American dream.”
She concluded by underscoring the SBA’s ongoing role in helping companies not just launch, but scale. Through programs like 7(a) and 504 loans, the SBA is currently issuing over 100 factory loans per week, supporting America’s next wave of manufacturers.
ASBN, from startup to success, we are your go-to resource for small business news, expert advice, information, and event coverage.
