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Harnessing Tariff-Induced Growth: Key Strategies

Your business is booming like never before. Clients previously sourcing products internationally are now eager to partner with you. With rising tariffs and global trade tensions, the demand for your U.S.-based services has escalated.

However, rapid expansion can pose risks. Unchecked growth might break your momentum before you realize it.

Policies that currently drive this growth can change unpredictably. Skilled employees are scarce, and those newly signed contracts may become cumbersome if tariffs revert to previous levels.

Welcome to hypergrowth—both exhilarating and daunting.

The Bigger Picture: Why the Surge?

Currently, pharmaceutical giants are investing heavily in U.S. infrastructure as a hedge against tariffs. Likewise, GM is establishing a $3.5B EV battery plant in Indiana to bypass Chinese supply networks.

Being domestically located is suddenly your ace in the hole. Yet, remember: tariffs are shifts, not certainties. Policy reversals could erode current advantages, making strategic planning indispensable for sustainable growth.

Identifying the Pitfalls of Rapid Expansion

  • Policy whiplash. Today's tariffs, tomorrow's rollbacks. Avoid overcommitting resources that might become obsolete with a single policy update. Understanding how tariffs can unsettle supply chains is essential.

  • The hiring scramble. Finding enough skilled professionals is challenging. Rushing to fill positions might lead to quality and compliance issues further down the line.

  • Supply chain vulnerabilities. Managing suppliers, tariffs, and regulations adds complexity. A single missing component might delay orders worth millions. Tariffs' impact on supply strategies showcases these challenges.

  • Contractual constraints. If your contracts don’t incorporate provisions for legal and tariff changes, your business risks significant vulnerability. Strategic tariff insights offer further guidance.

Growth without strategic foresight often camouflages risk as opportunity.

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Adapting Strategies for Smart Manufacturers

Beyond scaling operations, savvy manufacturers embed resilience into their business practices:

  • They diversify suppliers, securing materials from "friend-shoring" nations where tariffs pose less threat. Understanding friendshoring.

  • They conduct scenario analysis, preparing for various challenges like increased tariffs, supplier failures, or policy shifts.

  • They invest in automation, following examples such as Keen's automated shoe manufacturing to boost productivity without expanding the workforce substantially.

  • They strengthen contracts, ensuring they can adjust to any legal or economic changes without destabilizing business operations.

  • They safeguard cash flow, utilizing supply chain finance solutions to maintain stability as margins fluctuate. Exploring supply chain finance under tariffs.

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Case Studies: Strategies in Action

  • Auburn Manufacturing has successfully doubled its sales by prioritizing local supply chains, showcasing resilience's economic value. More on Auburn Manufacturing.

  • MP Materials established a formidable presence in Texas and attracted $500M from Apple by planning for market volatility, ensuring stability in uncertainty. Additional details on MP Materials.

Your Guide to Managing Growth Risks

  1. Exercise caution with growth. Factor in various tariff scenarios when planning expansions.

  2. Employ deliberately and train efficiently. Focus on maintaining a robust company culture and invest in workforce development.

  3. Automate strategically. Alleviate pressures from labor shortages through technology.

  4. Revise contracts for flexibility. Ensure they can adapt to legal shifts without financial stress.

  5. Maintain liquidity. Growth demands capital; ensure financial reserves grow in tandem.

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Thoughtful Growth: Balancing Opportunity and Risk

Tariffs might provide a temporary boost, but without strategic planning, your business could face setbacks. Success will come to those who not only expand but do so intelligently.

Let's collaborate. We can help tailor your growth strategy, turning tariff upheavals into stepping stones, rather than stumbling blocks.

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