Commentary

SBOs Bullish On 2015, But Not With Government's Help

According to a survey of small business owners by the Endurance International Group, 66% of small business owners have a positive economic outlook for 2015. However, a majority remains deeply skeptical that the new leadership in Congress will be able to address issues important to small businesses. (For purposes of this survey, small businesses are defined as employing 10 or less people on either a full-time or part-time basis.)

What is your general business outlook for 2015?

  • Very Positive: 26%
  • Positive: 45%
  • Neutral: 25%
  • Negative: 4%
  • Very Negative: 1%

What is your general business outlook for 2015 in comparison to 2014?

  • Positive compared to 2014: 66%
  • Negative compared to 2014: 5%
  • Same compared to 2014: 29%

Do you feel the new leadership in Congress will be more effective in addressing issues important to small businesses?

  • No: 69%
  • Yes: 31%

The results of the survey reveal that while 87% of U.S. small businesses feel that Congress has not been effective in addressing issues important to small businesses, and 74% believe that Congress should play a larger role in helping grow U.S. small businesses. 61% of small business owners do not believe that the President’s State of the Union address will have significant impact on their business planning for 2015.

 Do you feel that the Congress is effective in addressing issues important to small businesses?

  • No: 87%
  • Yes: 13%

Asked to rank key issues important to small businesses, survey respondents ranked Taxes as well as their Ability to Obtain Bank Financing as their top two concerns. On other key policy issues, 55% of survey respondents said Tax Code Reform “Impacts my business significantly.” 37% said that Healthcare Reform “Impacts my business significantly.” 36% responded “No Impact” and 27% responded “Impacts my business in minor ways.”

In order of importance, issues felt to be most important to small business:

  • Taxes
  • Ability to obtain bank financing
  • Ability to hired skilled workers
  • Healthcare coverage

Endurance CEO and Founder, Hari Ravich, concludes that “… U.S. small businesses are the backbone of our economy… while small businesses remain upbeat about the future… tax code reform and bank financing remain top of mind… leaders in Washington expected to keep small business at the top of their list of priorities…”

Please visit the Endurance Group here for additional information.

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