It’s the dream: Start your own business, be your own boss, and control your own time. But in reality, this is a bleak time for entrepreneurs , especially small-business owners who have to deal with whipsawing tariffs , inflation , and rising costs of living . “Almost every small-business owner I know is getting squeezed, especially the ones who work in hospitality,” says Amanda, who owned a chain of cafés in Los Angeles that closed a few years ago. “I’m so glad I got out when I did.”

But when you own a business, you can’t just quit. There are employees to consider, investors to report to, and orders to fulfill. The decision to close your doors is complicated — and lonely. “I didn’t have anyone to talk to about it,” one former business owner told me. “None of my fri

See Full Page