War in the Middle East: how are small bosses trying to adapt?

Their morale is down. 8 out of 10 VSE managers are worried about the international situation, according to the Fiducial-Ifop barometer, which takes the pulse of VSE activity each quarter. And how can we prove them wrong? Middle East, Ukraine… Wars are shaking up the world economy. And all businesses. The most concerned are those whose structure has between 10 and 19 employees (89%), as well as companies with a turnover of more than one million euros (86%).

But above all, more than 6 out of 10 small business owners think that the international context is likely to have “strong” negative repercussions on their activity within 6 months. Concretely, the latter mainly fear an increase in the cost of energy, an increase in purchase prices (services, supplies or raw materials), a decline in demand, or even a drop in turnover. Contacted by CapitalOlivier Rousseau, who owns the “Beers of the World and Elsewhere” bar located near Toulon, regrets that consumers are spending less and less on outings, due to lack of budget. “Some customers, who used to come here once a week, now come once every three weeks.”he admits. A decline in consumption which inexorably leads to a drop in turnover.

Also read One in 5 small business managers plans to cease their activity at the start of 2026

What consequences for their customers?

Faced with difficulties, these bosses do not want to sit idly by. 9 out of 10 VSEs have taken or intend to take at least one measure to deal with this uncertain international context. Starting with the reduction in spending (70%) or the postponement of certain investments (56%). Others say they have no choice but to directly impact their customers, by passing on the increase in costs to the selling price (55%). Still according to this study, this latest measure could have the effect of creating a new inflationary spiral.

For Jean-Guilhem Darré, general delegate of the Union of Independents and Small Businesses (SDI), the increase in prices can lead to a drop in consumption if it is not measured. “As the purchasing power of consumers is already declining, an increase in prices could lead to a reduction in customers”he confides to Capitalrecognizing however that some VSEs have no other choice. At the end of the chain, it is often the customer who pays the bill.

Read the article on the Capital website