It\u2019s been just over two years since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared over by the World Health Organization.<\/p>\n
Masks are gone, events are back, school is face-to-face again, travel restrictions are behind us, and no-movement days are a distant memory. Yet, for many small business owners, the ghosts of the pandemic linger on.<\/p>\n
Stories of complete recovery are few and far between. Instead, many have tales of resilience, residual losses, and tough decisions still to be made.<\/p>\n
Globally, over 41 per cent of small businesses temporarily closed during COVID. According to IDB and related surveys, 94 per cent of Caribbean firms reported negative impact. In Jamaica, where MSMEs account for more than 80 per cent of employment, the crushing impact was felt in most sectors. Across the region, sales declined over 35 per cent, while one in three businesses reported being on the verge of permanent closure.<\/p>\n
These aren\u2019t just numbers. Behind the data are people. <\/p>\n
To understand the state of recovery in 2025, I reached out to 50 small business owners across different industries, from wellness and logistics to construction, personal care, food manufacturing, entertainment, security, tourism, and professional services. I asked three questions:<\/p>\n
\u2022\tHow much did you lose during the pandemic?<\/p>\n
\u2022\tHow did you survive?<\/p>\n
\u2022\tHave you recovered \u2013 financially, operationally, and personally?<\/p>\n
The responses were honest, deeply revealing and, in some cases, very emotional. Here are a few across industries.<\/p>\n
David, who owns several companies in logistics and sanitation, experienced a major boom during COVID. Demand for cleaning and sanitation skyrocketed, with government being his biggest and fastest paying.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were moving non-stop. Honestly, we never had it better. It was the best run we ever had,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Since the pandemic ended, there\u2019s been a contraction in demand as urgency dissipated. Though some contracts dried up, business is still flourishing. However, the company is back to chasing receivables.<\/p>\n
David\u2019s story is the exception.<\/p>\n
Karen runs a wellness business and saw 65 per cent revenue loss. She had to dig deep, leaned on her savings, and marketed to overseas clients. Her family relied heavily on her for help. She hasn\u2019t recovered financially. She did, however, gain clarity and a deeper understanding of her value to the community she serves.<\/p>\n
Michael operates in tourism and transportation and lost 70 per cent of his income. He says he survived on one major client and divine grace.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe took a church contract and transported food industry workers. That kept us alive. Now, we\u2019re debt-free but we\u2019re not back. We\u2019re just trying to build our network again and stay ready for the next crisis,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Some losses went far deeper than revenue.<\/p>\n
Sharon, a hairstylist, remembers hiding in her salon from the police just to finish appointments. \u201cMy business wasn\u2019t \u2018essential\u2019. I was only allowed to work a few days a week. I had to space out clients to avoid crowds, and watch the clock constantly. Many customers started doing their own hair at home,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Sharon lost millions of dollars and has not recovered fully. She said the roughest part has been the haunting mental toll. There was also the embarrassment of struggling to pay loans on the verge of default, and bills. She applied for a grant but wasn\u2019t approved. Still, she was able to help others complete the forms online at the community Internet caf\u00e9, who received grants.<\/p>\n
Tanya, another beauty service provider, estimates over $3 million lost. Unlike Sharon, she didn\u2019t own her home. She couldn\u2019t pay the rent and had to move home and close the business. She now rents a chair in someone\u2019s shop. On the upside, she received a $25,000 grant, which helped but was not enough.<\/p>\n
Tanya is hoping the government will offer future support with marketing or technical capacity development to help her pivot and rebuild. Sadly, the stress of the pandemic caused her to be hospitalised with illness twice.<\/p>\n
Nicole bravely started her shipping business in the middle of the pandemic. Year 1 ended in a loss, but, in 2023, she broke even.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been slow-but-steady growth, because my industry is high demand,\u201d Nicole said. She anticipates a modest profit this year.<\/p>\n
Andrea, a contractor, had to shutter her office and storage space when business dropped 75 per cent. She maxed out her savings trying to survive. She pivoted to home renovations, tapping into a new wave of homeowners redesigning their spaces during lockdowns. She credits loyal clients and suppliers with keeping her afloat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re growing again, but not enough to breathe easy. Especially now, we\u2019re dealing with rising tariffs, higher material costs, and bad debt that never went away,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s Jason in professional services. He lost $8 million a year during the pandemic. Last year, the losses grew, he downsized, cutting everything he could. He said he tried pivot after pivot but still has not bounced back.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I don\u2019t hit certain targets this year, I may need to close,\u201d Jason said.<\/p>\n
Monique, also in the professional sector, estimates she lost over $30 million across four years. She closed her office and pivoted to remote work, before eventually taking a part-time job to survive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat broke me. I worked so hard to never be in that position again, but I had no choice,\u201d Monique said quietly.<\/p>\n
After what she called a financial hurricane, her biggest concern is rebuilding the pension fund she raided and supporting her children who will soon be off to college.<\/p>\n
Several patterns emerged in almost every story: the entrepreneurs\u2019 personal savings, pensions and personal lines of credit were used to keep the firms open. Most felt alone and unsupported. Some bankers and insurers offered moratoriums but not much else. Some owners described their lenders as \u201cinflexible and uncaring\u201d, especially as they defaulted on payments.<\/p>\n
What is also clear is that recovery is not a finish line. For many, it\u2019s a moving target, complicated by the business owner\u2019s stage in the life cycle, industry and access to resources. Recovery is not just being \u2018open for business\u2019; it\u2019s stability, clearing debts and having reserves again.<\/p>\n
At the national policy level we must reimagine MSME support, and adjust procurement targets and policies in order to expand the spend with small enterprises and spread the opportunities wider.<\/p>\n
Also, we need to invest in mental health and well-being, not just markets. The reality is that the pandemic may be over, but the fallout is not.<\/p>\n
Note: All names have been changed to protect the privacy of the business owners interviewed.<\/p>\n
One love!<\/p>\n