Small businesses in Turkey face rising costs and regulatory gaps

Small business owners in Turkey are facing significant economic challenges due to rising operational costs and regulatory imbalances. In Amasya, representatives from the Yeniden Refah Party have called for permanent measures to alleviate the burden of electricity, rent, taxes, and insurance premiums on local tradespeople. They emphasized that small businesses are vital to the local economy and social fabric, warning that business closures threaten local employment and neighborhood culture.

In Diyarbakır, mobile phone retailers are protesting current installment regulations. Mehmet Hanifi Koçeroğlu, President of the Diyarbakır Telephone Dealers and Businessmen Association, stated that existing installment rules favor large operators and chain stores while leaving independent small businesses unable to compete. In addition to these regulatory gaps, small merchants reported being squeezed by high POS commissions, rising rents, personnel wages, and utility bills.