Tariffs Aren't Killing Profitability. Your Decisions Are!

Most business owners blame tariffs for shrinking profits—but the real damage comes from USMCA compliance mistakes, miscoded HS classifications, and poor trade visibility.Tariffs between Canada and the U.S. feel like a tax problem.But in this episode, Karena Bell, Founder of ProfitLinz (https://profitlinz.com/) explains something simple:Tariffs rarely destroy margin.Bad decisions do.Many companies are overpaying 20–40% in duties because of:Incorrect HS codesMissed United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) qualificationsConservative classificationsUnreviewed broker filingsThat money leaves quietly.No headlines.No alerts.Just lower EBITDA months later.When tariffs rise, landed costs increase immediately. Duties are paid before revenue is collected. Inventory ties up cash. Pricing adjustments lag.Cash stress shows up before profit erosion.Most leaders don’t see it until it’s too late.Karena breaks down how USMCA compliance mistakes and tariff misclassification are hurting small and mid-sized businesses across Canada and the United States.This is not a compliance issue.It is a profit strategy issue. Key Topics CoveredWhat are common USMCA compliance mistakes?How do tariffs impact cash flow before profit?Why are companies overpaying import duties?How do HS code errors reduce EBITDA?Why brokers focus on compliance, not margin optimizationHow leaders can model tariff volatility risk Who This Podcast Is ForStartup founders, solopreneurs, CFOs, import/export businesses, and scaling business owners operating between Canada and the U.S. What You’ll GainActionable insights, hard-won lessons, and practical trade strategies to protect margin, improve working capital, and prevent hidden duty overpayments. GuestKarena BellFounder, ProfitLinzLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenambell/Website: https://profitlinz.com/Complimentary tariff assessment on the ProfitLinz website at: https://profitlinz.com/tariffHostsBernie Franzgrotehttps://link.v1ce.co.uk/berniefranzgrotePercy BarrLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/percy-barr-10992b10/Website: https://percybarr.com/Wayne PrattLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prattwayne/Website: https://motive8u.ca/ SponsorsWebIndexer – Turn your website into a 24/7 sales assistant with a smart chatbot.👉 https://tinyurl.com/yav4edf5Notionhive – High-performing websites that generate leads.👉 https://tinyurl.com/35hrnu4aEast Trade Winds – Free networking community for serious business connections.👉 https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUlf-msrzktGdz-UTwX8Tv6CK5Lu3tacGI9 Canada Growth Network MembershipJoin the Canada Growth Network for $47 CAD per month.Get access to GoHighLevel, business tools, and community support.First month is just $1. Cancel anytime.👉 https://canadagrowthnetwork.com//ghl Watch & ReadYouTube: https://youtu.be/7zxiYncTQzEArticle Version: https://knack-4-business.ghost.io/tariffs-arent-killing-profitability-your-decisions-are Call To ActionRead more.Review your HS codes.Then tell us—have you checked your USMCA compliance in the last two years?Email us at:📧 [email protected]:https://canadagrowthnetwork.com Disclaimer: Everything you heard today is for educational purposes only. It's not professional advice. Before you act on anything — talk to a certified expert in your area. Your accountant. Your lawyer. Someone who knows your situation.We share perspectives. You make the decisions.Want more? Head over to blog.knack4business.com — packed with practical episodes on AI, marketing, leadership, and growth. No fluff. Just the good stuff. Subscribe while you're there.Until next time; keep building. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.