As your trusted technology partner, we’ve been closely monitoring the recent tariff changes that are affecting our industry. We understand that as a small business owner, you’re focused on growing your company—not deciphering complex trade policies. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you understand how these tariffs will impact your technology investments and what we can do together to navigate these challenges.
Understanding Tariffs: The Basics
When you purchase technology through us, you might notice price changes in the coming months. Here’s why: Tariffs are essentially taxes imposed on imported goods. As of March 5, 2025, the United States has implemented significant tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China—countries where many of our technology components originate.
When these products arrive in the US, Customs and Border Protection collects these tariffs, which ultimately affect the prices we pay for the equipment we provide to you. While we always work to find you the best value, these tariff increases represent a new challenge we’ll need to address together.
How the Current Tariff Landscape Affects Your Technology
The chart we’ve included illustrates the dramatic shift we’re seeing. Current tariffs on IT goods have been around 10%, but new and potential future tariffs could double to 20% for Chinese imports and even reach 25% for Canadian and Mexican goods.
For perspective, a $2,000 server that previously incurred a $200 tariff cost will now come with a $400-500 tariff added. This translates directly to higher costs for the technology solutions your business depends on.
What This Means for Your Business
As your technology partner, we want to be transparent about how these changes might affect your operations:
1. Increased Equipment Costs
The hardware you rely on—from workstations to networking equipment—will likely see price increases. For example, if you’re planning to upgrade your team’s laptops, you might see an additional $200 per unit compared to similar purchases last year.
2. Potential Delays in Equipment Availability
Beyond price increases, we’re also seeing disruptions in the supply chain. Some manufacturers are adjusting their production schedules or shifting suppliers, which could extend delivery times for certain equipment.
3. Impact on Your Technology Roadmap
If you’ve been planning significant infrastructure upgrades this year, these tariff increases might require us to revisit your technology roadmap. We may need to prioritize certain investments while postponing others to manage your overall technology budget effectively.
How We’re Supporting Our Clients Through These Changes
As your technology advisor, we’re not just bringing you this news—we’re actively developing strategies to help minimize the impact on your business:
1. Strategic Purchasing Recommendations
We’re analyzing which equipment might see the most significant price increases and can help you prioritize purchases accordingly. In some cases, it might make sense to accelerate certain purchases before additional tariff increases take effect.
2. Alternative Solutions Exploration
Our team is actively researching alternative products and suppliers that might be less affected by current tariffs. While we never compromise on quality, we’re finding creative ways to deliver the technology you need at the best possible value.
3. Cost-Effective Upgrade Paths
For clients facing budget constraints, we’re developing phased implementation plans that allow you to spread investments over time while still maintaining security and performance standards.
4. Cloud Strategy Optimization
For some workloads, accelerating your move to cloud services might help mitigate hardware costs. We can evaluate which of your systems are good candidates for cloud migration as part of a tariff mitigation strategy.
Real-World Impact Examples for Businesses Like Yours
Example 1: 15-Person Professional Services Firm
One of our clients previously budgeted $20,000 for new workstations and a server upgrade. With the new tariffs, this same technology package would cost approximately $24,000—a $4,000 increase. Working together, we identified which components were most critical and developed a phased approach that kept their immediate investment under their original budget while planning for the remaining upgrades later in the year.
Example 2: 30-Person Manufacturing Company
Another client needed to upgrade their network infrastructure to support new production systems. Rather than absorbing a 25% increase on imported networking equipment, we helped them implement a hybrid solution that leveraged some existing hardware alongside strategic new purchases, reducing their overall tariff exposure while still meeting their performance requirements.
Planning Your Technology Strategy in Uncertain Times
While we can’t predict exactly how trade policies will evolve, we can help you develop a technology strategy that remains flexible and resilient:
1. Prioritize Critical Systems
Let’s work together to identify which technology investments are truly essential for your business continuity and security. These should take priority in your budget planning.
2. Consider Longer Replacement Cycles
For less critical systems, we might recommend extending replacement cycles where it makes sense. Our maintenance services can help extend the life of existing equipment until the tariff situation stabilizes.
3. Explore Financing Options
To help manage cash flow, we’ve expanded our financing partnerships to offer more flexible payment options for technology investments affected by tariff increases.
4. Schedule a Tariff Impact Assessment
Our team is offering complimentary tariff impact assessments for all our clients. We’ll review your current technology infrastructure and planned investments to identify specific areas where tariffs might affect your business and develop mitigation strategies tailored to your needs.
Our Commitment to You
As your technology partner, we understand that unexpected cost increases create real challenges for your business. While we can’t eliminate the impact of these tariffs entirely, we’re committed to helping you navigate these changes with minimal disruption to your operations and budget.
The relationship we’ve built with your business is based on trust and transparency. We’ll continue to monitor the tariff situation closely and keep you informed of any developments that might affect your technology strategy.
Next Steps
We recommend scheduling a consultation with your dedicated account manager to discuss how these tariff changes might specifically impact your technology roadmap. Together, we can develop a strategy that protects your critical infrastructure while managing costs effectively.
In challenging times like these, having a trusted technology advisor becomes even more valuable. We appreciate your continued partnership and are here to support your business through these economic changes and beyond.
Your success remains our priority, and we’re confident that with thoughtful planning and strategic adjustments, your business can continue to thrive despite these new challenges.
