Business leaders adapt to economic uncertainty and rising tariffs

Global business leaders are increasingly navigating economic instability driven by rising tariffs, inflation, and geopolitical tensions. Recent data indicates that 59% of business leaders believe tariffs will negatively impact their organizations, while 85% report that tariffs have already affected their planning processes. Geopolitical tensions have also seen a significant rise in concern, cited by 37% of finance leaders as a top external challenge for 2025.

To combat this uncertainty, finance professionals are turning to advanced forecasting methods, including scenario modeling, simulations, and artificial intelligence to create more responsive top-down approaches. Companies are also evaluating supply chain shifts and deciding how to manage the passing of tariff costs to customers.

Amidst this volatility, business owners considering an exit are advised to look beyond macroeconomic headlines. Experts suggest that the ideal time to sell a business depends on three internal factors: whether the business is growing or stable, the specific market conditions for the industry, and the personal readiness of the owner to depart.