A hefty tariff on Chinese tires went into effect last week. President Obama says the 25-35 percent tax will help boost America's tire industry, but that's not necessarily the case, argues this SmartMoney article posted on WSJ.com.

While it may restore demand for tires made by mega-manufacturers like Bridgestone or Goodyear, it will be the equivalent of a tire blowout for small firms like Findlay, Ohio-based Hercules Tire and Rubber—as well as consumers who will be paying higher tire prices until American manufacturers can ramp up production. Hercules CEO Bill Trimarco has had to raise his prices on Chinese tires 10-15 percent to account for the new tariff.

He told SmartMoney, "People have been putting off the purchase of tires anyway. When the price of tires goes up, [fewer] tires will be sold."

It has a trickle effect: Fewer tires sold means fewer tires installed and so on.

Posted by Lena Anthony on October 5, 2009 03:32 PM

For entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship as we know it? Yes, says Rita Gunther McGrath.

This small business expert, warns that the healthcare reform proposals being pushed through Congress—particularly the pay-or-play one, in which small business owners would be required to provide health insurance or pay a tax—would result in lower entrepreneurial productivity. Here's her reasoning:

"The effects of higher individual taxes on rates of entrepreneurship are without an exception, negative. It is well accepted, and has been for decades, that the desire to have a vibrant entrepreneurial economy is at odds with the desire to operate a welfare state, due in large part to the way in which welfare states allocate resources. When the upside to undertaking the risks of entrepreneurship decrease, while the downside of not doing much at all are limited, it becomes hard to justify making the effort. If it is possible to live quite a comfortable life without too much bother, why take on the long hours, the worry and the headaches of small business ownership?"

Go check out her blog to read the rest of her compelling argument against a pay-or-play healthcare proposal. And then go contact your lawmakers to let them know that any healthcare reform proposal that burdens small business owners and adds to their already long list of administrative hassles is not a proposal they should support.

Posted by Lena Anthony on July 29, 2009 05:34 PM

What do we want? Healthcare! When do we want it? Now!

Those are the screams that have been shouted repeatedly over the last two hours outside my office window. I work in a building that also houses the in-district offices of Tennessee's two U.S. senators, so our parking lot is often the spot protesters choose.

While I wish they'd quiet down, their screams serve as a reminder that something very important is happening today. The discussions being had in this week's healthcare overhaul markup sessions in the U.S. House and Senate are going to affect those people protesting outside and every other American—particularly small business owners who are going be asked to foot the bill (for more, check out this Wall Street Journal article).

As the healthcare debate really heats up this summer, do your part to get educated and speak your mind. Every major news outlet we point to on mybusinessmag.com will likely be updated daily on the latest healthcare news and what it means for small business. Take a few moments to read these updates. As a major player in this fight, it's your responsibility to stay informed.

And as always, NFIB.com is a great place to educate yourself on the issues and reach out to decisionmakers.

Posted by Lena Anthony on July 15, 2009 01:41 PM

Following NFIB on Twitter this afternoon, I was led to this article on the New York Times Web site. It discusses the stance the health insurance industry is taking on sweeping healthcare reform. The industry is willing to do away with pre-existing condition and health status requirements—for individuals. For small group plans? That's a different story.

An insurance company CEO's quote made me audibly laugh:

“Those markets generally work today.”

Umm, no, I don't think they do. Far from it, in fact. Just ask any of the 100 or so small business owners I've interviewed in the past five years on this topic. These markets don't work, and things are getting worse, not better.

The healthcare debate is heating up in Washington, D.C., as Congress and the president are eager to reform the system by the end of the year. But don't leave all the work to Congress, the president and the insurance lobby. You need to get involved, too.

Check out this healthcare feature in the current issue of MyBusiness. It covers all angles of the healthcare debate and the effect various reforms would have on small business. Then, head over to NFIB.com, where you can find more ways to get involved in the fight for meaningful healthcare reform.

Posted by Lena Anthony on June 3, 2009 02:42 PM

The healthcare system is broken. Everyone can agree on that. What no one can agree on, though, is how to fix it. According to this WebMD article, healthcare's key players (including small business) better brush up on their negotiating skills because a reform package is expected this year—and the powers that be mean it.

The article explains the debate, predicts what is likely to be introduced in Congress in the coming months and where the key players stand on the proposals. It's a preview of what we'll cover in the June/July issue of MyBusiness.

Start educating yourself on the debate now, so that when NFIB needs you to speak up for small business, you're ready to go.

Posted by Lena Anthony on April 16, 2009 03:05 PM

Until I started working for a small business magazine, I never understood why stores would give a discount if you paid with cash over credit card. Or why when I tried to charge a $2.50 lunch and the clerk wanted to charge me an extra fee. Well now I understand. It's because credit card companies charge processing fees—and they charge them to the businesses, not the consumers. Talk about a burden.

And according to this article on NFIB.com, small businesses that accept credit cards are about to face even bigger burdens come tax time. NFIB shines the spotlight on a law that was passed last year that will require merchants to turn their credit card receipts over to the IRS. Head on over to find out what your business needs to do to prepare for this new law.

Posted by Lena Anthony on February 18, 2009 04:39 PM

What is the biggest expense in your business? If you're like many small business owners across the country, the first thing that probably comes to mind is healthcare—not just getting health insurance but also finding coverage you can afford for you and your employees. This has become such a concern that the small business community is "leveraging its voice in the economic stimulus debate to focus" on overhauling the U.S. health care system, the Washington Post reports. A daily health policy report published by the Kaiser Network cites two studies to show just how crucial the issue has become:

•70 percent of entrepreneurs said they were concerned about the rising cost of providing healthcare in 2009, according to a recent survey by the Entrepreneurs' Organization.
•Health care premiums for small businesses on average are 18 percent higher than those of large businesses, according to NFIB research.

Find out more about what NFIB is doing to fight for accessible and affordable healthcare for you here.

Posted by Emily McMackin on February 12, 2009 04:59 PM

Whether you have three or 300 employees, when it comes to having an employee handbook, size doesn't matter. It serves as an introduction for new employees and an essential reference guide for existing staff. If you're not sure where to start when creating your employee handbook, check out today's Tools and Tips article on NFIB.com for a simple checklist of must-have items, including topics like:

• General policies and procedures, including pay periods, performance reviews, workplace attire, vacation time, etc.


• Leave policies, including sick and maternity leave


• Employee benefits, including health and life insurance, if applicable


• Separation policies, including termination and job abandonment

NFIB members can also download at no cost the Model Employee Handbook for Small Business, a step-by-step guide to compiling your company policies from the NFIB Small Business Legal Center.

Posted by Megan Morris on January 29, 2009 04:20 PM

This morning, the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy released its "third quarter trends" analysis. While these trends have been reported previously, seeing them all together underscores the challenging times small businesses in the U.S. are moving through. Following are the major trends, according to the report. (A PDF of the full report can be downloaded at the SBA Office of the Advocacy website.)

The U.S. economy experienced weaknesses in the third quarter, as real gross domestic product fell 0.3 percent. Consumers, who helped lift GDP in the second quarter with their economic stimulus checks, reduced their spending by an annualized 3.1 percent in the third quarter, and real gross private domestic investment continued to fall, with an annualized 1.9 percent decline. Real exports remained strong, growing an annualized 5.9 percent; real imports declined 1.9 percent annually, resulting in an improved trade deficit. Meanwhile, manufacturing output declined, with the Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturers’ purchasing index down from 50.2 in June to 43.5 in September and the Federal Reserve’s industrial production index down an annualized 6.0 percent.

Small business owners and consumers are pessimistic about the economy, with the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment survey and the National Federation of Independent Business’s optimism index lower than desired. According to the NFIB survey, the next three months are not a good time to expand operations, to hire new workers, or to invest in new capital projects.

The unemployment rate in August and September rose to 6.1 percent, its highest point since September 2003, and the U.S. economy has lost jobs each month in 2008, with 760,000 fewer nonfarm payroll jobs since December 2007. Every industry has seen employment losses, with the exception of four – education and health services, government, natural resources and mining, and other services. Some of the hardest hit industries were construction, manufacturing, retail trade, financial activities, and professional and business services. In the third quarter, unincorporated self-employment fell from 10.5 to 10.1 million; incorporated self-employment remained around 5.8 million.

The Federal Reserve has expressed concern about weaknesses in the economy and in the credit markets. It has worked closely with the U.S. Treasury and Congress to shore up the health of banking and other financial institutions and to stimulate the economy. (The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act was enacted on October 3, and the Federal Reserve cut the federal funds target rate by another 50 basis points on October 29. The prime rate is now 4.25 percentage points lower than in September 2007.) Small business lending demand remains weak, according to the Federal Reserve’s Senior Loan Officers’ Survey, and venture investment has also fallen in the third quarter.

Inflation remains an issue, although growth in producer prices has tapered off. Consumer prices rose an annualized 6.7 percent in the third quarter; when energy and food prices were excluded, the consumer price index grew 3.2 percent annually. The producer price index, which increased nearly 14 percent between September 2007 and September 2008, was up an annualized 2.5 percent in the third quarter. Wages and salaries and the cost of providing benefits rose 2.2 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively, on an annualized basis. The price of oil has fallen dramatically since peaking at over $145 per barrel in July. The average cost of West Texas crude was $103.90 in September. (It fell further to around $66 a barrel by the end of October.) Nonfarm labor productivity grew an annualized 1.1 percent in the third quarter.

Posted by Rex Hammock on November 7, 2008 07:38 AM

I know it's out there and poses a real threat, but I personally don't give identity theft much thought. But if you're a business owner who shares my sentiment, you'd better get it out of your system—and quick. According to this smSmallBiz article, Nevada has become the first of several states to require businesses to encrypt customer information that is transmitted electronically (Massachusetts will follow suit in January).

But even if you don't work in Nevada or Massachusetts, the new regulations there are still cause for concern as they will affect businesses that do business with customers who reside in those states. Check out the article for one Nevada small business owner's solution to complying with the new regulation.

Posted by Lena Anthony on October 22, 2008 02:49 PM

We moved to a new city last year, and a few months ago, I voted in the presidential primary--my first election in my new hometown. Arriving at the local library to cast my vote, I was amazed at the openness of it all. After I got my ballot, I sat down at a long table full of other voters to mark my choices. Short of hunching over my paper, everyone around me could easily see who I was voting for. I'm used to private booths, or at least partitions, when I cast my votes.

Long explanation to say, it's exactly the way NFIB/TN State Director Jim Brown explains the "Employee Free Choice Act," a bill that passed the U.S. House last year and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. In his opinion piece in yesterday's Tennessean newspaper, Brown describes the bill as an "attempt by organized labor to alter the workplace radically by seeking union recognition outside the long-protected secret-ballot election.

"Rather than hold an election, union representatives would need only to coerce a majority of employees to sign authorization cards. Once a union collects enough signed cards, the organizing drive would be over and the business would become unionized. All of this would occur either without the knowledge or involvement of the business owner," Brown writes.

He goes on to explain that while unions won 54 percent of the elections held in 2007, they won 90 percent of the time when card checks were used.

NFIB has been a fierce opponent of this so-called card-check legislation. As the Democratic and Republican conventions get underway and campaign season gets into full swing, card checks are just one issue small business owners should consider when deciding who to vote for.

Posted by Shannon McRae on August 25, 2008 08:45 AM

This is a topic that MyBusiness has covered for years, so it's nice to see the rising cost of health insurance for small business get some very mainstream coverage in the New York Times.

The article talks about states that are taking it into their own hands to break down the barriers and help more small business owners afford healthcare coverage for themselves and their employees. From tax credits to pooling options to caps on premium increases, states like Arizona, Connecticut and Montana are trying to find a solution to the healthcare crisis.

Read about the ways NFIB is fighting for healthcare reform here and here, and look for more on the topic at www.FixedForAmerica.com.

Posted by Lena Anthony on July 9, 2008 03:37 PM

Here's one from the file of crazy regulations: Truckers will soon be required to carry a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) from the U.S. Department of Transportation, but you can only obtain them in person. Easy enough, right? Not if you live in one of 12 states where the nearest TWIC office is hundreds of miles away.

What's more, "the TWIC program requires in-person enrollment, followed by a second appointment at the same location to personally pick up the biometric identification card," according to the LandLine article.

If you're not a trucker, you probably can't relate to this, but as a small-business owner, you can relate to being overly burdened by government regulations that fail to take small-business interests into consideration.

So what can you do? Follow these tips from NFIB on making your voice heard on the issues that matter to your small business.

Posted by Lena Anthony on January 11, 2008 02:53 PM

Not that you need an expert to tell you that the cost of health-insurance is spiraling out of control, but it's always nice when a reputable organization can reinforce what you've known for years.

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation study reported that "health-insurance-premium increases consistently outpace inflation and the growth in workers' earnings." While premiums have increased between 8 and 14 percent each year since 2000, inflation and wages have been approximately 3 to 4 percent—meaning each year, businesses and workers are spending more and more of their income just to keep their health insurance.

Sigh. Read the rest of the report here and then head over to NFIB.com/healthcare to find out how you can join the fight for better access to more affordable health insurance for small businesses.

Posted by Lena Anthony on August 22, 2007 01:38 PM

I don't plan to fund my post-retirement trip around the world with my Social Security checks (if there's even still money left to distribute by then). Fortunately for me, I work at a small business that offers a great retirement-savings plan. But we're in the minority among small businesses. Companies with more than 100 employees have 65 percent participation in retirement plans, but for businesses with fewer than 25 employees, the rate is a meager 25 percent.

Washington Post business columnist Martha Hamilton is right on track with the reason behind the discrepancy: "Hundreds of thousands of small-business owners often work flat out just to keep the business operating," Hamilton writes. "They don't have accountants, lawyers, tax consultants or human resource offices to help sort out the complex rules, and their earnings are often unpredictable. That retirement planning takes a back seat is not surprising."

Hamilton outlines plans some groups in Washington think might be one way to help the nearly half of all private-sector employees who don't have or don't participate in retirement plans where they work.

Posted by Shannon McRae on July 2, 2007 12:05 AM

When Peter van Aartrijk started his own consulting group, he was prepared to take on the business of some spiteful clients—but that didn’t last long. "I decided after about a year that I wanted to work only for, and with, people I like,” says van Aartrijk in an interview with Startup Journal’s Sue Shellenbarger. “A lot of times in business you run into people who are smart, but also incredibly rude and condescending and treat people around them horribly. They create a lot of inefficiencies…I'd estimate I was spending an extra hour a day at work just trying to satisfy unreasonable, frustrating clients.”

While van Aartrijk admits that small businesses trying to get their feet on the ground can’t always afford the luxury of turning away clients, he believes that working with agreeable customers grows your business over time. "I probably turn away about 20 percent of the revenue we could be bringing in,” he admits. “But I think we gain over the long term, in relationships with clients; we're still growing 20 percent a year.”

The point: You don’t have to accept the business of every client to make a living. Read more about van Aartrijk and learn about how to make money while standing up for yourself, and your employees.

Posted by Megan Pacella on April 23, 2007 01:55 PM

The month of April is in full swing, and one dreadful word is on everyone’s mind—taxes. With the deadline looming, many small-business owners find themselves adding extra stress to their load.

According to the March Discover Small Business Watch survey, 77 percent of small-business owners find keeping up with taxes a stressful and time-consuming ordeal. In order to avoid the distractions, 73 percent hire a tax professional to take care of the hassle instead.

The survey also mentions how small business owners prefer to find a trustworthy accounting firm to file their taxes. For an overview on the survey, check out Andrea Coombes’ article on StartupJournal.com.

Posted by Megan Pacella on April 3, 2007 01:27 PM

By now, you've probably heard about universal health care. A system that's been adopted in Canada and England, it's one of the latest proposals to solve this nation's health-care crisis.

Health care for everyone? Hooray! Crisis averted!

But as we examine in the April/May issue of MyBusiness, a government-run, single-payer health-care system is anything but the perfect cure. Read the new Issue at Hand feature to find out more about the proposal, who's behind it and what it would do to worsen the state of health care in America.

Posted by Lena Anthony on April 2, 2007 01:58 PM

Small-business owners beware: The IRS is watching you. An article in American Business Daily explains that members of the Senate Finance Committee recently asked the IRS to come up with a plan for closing the estimated $290 million tax gap (the difference between what federal taxpayers owe and what they actually pay). Upon hearing its assignment, the agency pointed to business owners as the biggest source of the problem, claiming that underreported business income makes up one-third of the tax gap.

This issue has NFIB written all over it--the small-business advocacy group refuses to stand by and let the government balance its books on the backs of independent-business owners. A story in the current issue of MyBusiness magazine explains why the IRS is barking up the wrong tree.

Posted by Shannon McRae on February 7, 2007 09:01 AM

Experts say the burden of coping with federal government regulations costs businesses over $1 trillion each year -- hitting small business the hardest. As NFIB members have revealed in numerous member surveys, they believe such costs hinders their ability to grow their businesses. In a commentary appearing in Today's Washington Times, Tom Sullivan, chief counsel for advocacy of the Office of Advocacy of the SBA, cheers a victory in the efforts to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens: a reduction in the paperwork required from small businesses by the EPA's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program.

Posted by Rex Hammock on February 1, 2007 11:18 AM

I thought I had heard it all when I read some time last year that Wal-Mart was "going green." The mammoth retailer announced it would begin selling organic products as well as working to find ways to reduce waste and cut its greenhouse gas emissions. "Whatever," I thought to myself. "Just another desperate attempt at some good PR." (Those of us around the halls of MyBusiness delight in being anti-Wal-Mart.)

But then I noticed that Wal-Mart wasn't the only one in corporate America clamoring to be known as environmentally friendly. Over the past few years, "green" has taken on a new meaning in some businesses. NPR's Marketplace interviewed Yale professor Daniel Etsy earlier this week about how some smart companies (including Wal-Mart) have realized that tree-hugging can be good for the environment and their bottom lines.

So how are small businesses fitting into this trend? Has your business--or one you know--adopted new practices that will sustain Mother Earth? If so, we want to hear from you. E-mail us at feedback@mybusinessmag.com.

Posted by Shannon McRae on January 31, 2007 09:00 AM

I love to eat. I get as excited about a new restaurant as some people get about the Super Bowl (sorry to any fans, but neither team interests me this year). So the idea of being able to write off a good meal is right up my alley. But even though the IRS allows businesses to deduct 50 percent of the cost of meals and entertainment expenses incurred as a cost of doing business, being cautious is key. This article in the Charlotte Business Observer lists five essential points you should cover to substantiate a meals or entertainment deduction.

Posted by Shannon McRae on January 22, 2007 08:54 AM

Small-business owners ended 2006 on a serious note, according to the latest NFIB Research Foundation Small-Business Economic Trends Report. Declines in job-creation plans as well as a drop in the number of business owners who expected the economy to improve sent the Small-Business Optimism level down 3.2 points to 96.5 (1986=100).

October readings showed near record-high rates of business owners planning to create new jobs. But by December, that number dropped sharply to just 10 percent. Ten percent of the owners reported that the availability of qualified labor was their top business problem, down two points from November and five points from October, indicating that labor market conditions may be easing.

Read more about what the survey predicts about the first quarter of this year here.

Posted by Shannon McRae on January 11, 2007 08:31 AM

The U.S. military thinks your business may hold some secrets about how to win the war on terror. A recent USA Today article suggests that it's not off base to think the solutions for winning the war on terrorism may be found within our country's capitalist society--ironically, the very values terrorists purport to hate.

Why is the military looking to businesses, especially small businesses? Because, as the article explains, "the world of geopolitics has discovered itself to be on the same road that business has been on for some time. That road is flatter, more networked and more decentralized than ever."

By looking at how small companies like YouTube, Skype and Wikipedia are giving old giants in their industries a run for their money, the military hopes to gain some ideas it can use to fight al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.

Posted by Shannon McRae on January 8, 2007 01:46 PM

Reading this article in the "St. Petersburg Times" about an upcoming small business forum, I thought it was about a group of Florida entrepreneurs getting together to discuss challenges and opportunities. It turns out, however, the gathering is taking place in St. Petersburg, Russia. However, some issues are universal -- granted, with some local nuance -- if you look at what the group will be discussing: "Participants will discuss state support of small business and ways to overcome administrative barriers, how the reform of the housing maintenance system will affect small business, the role of small business in the high-tech industry and industrial production, development of small business in retail, credit schemes and sources of financing, as well as women entrepreneurs."

Posted by Rex Hammock on December 11, 2006 04:45 PM

On Christmas Day a few years ago, my mom realized she was out of candles for the dining room table. With guests coming for a Christmas feast, she started calling local stores to see who was open (after all, ambience is everything). We found one Walgreen’s in our city that was open, and luckily they had the candles. My mom was happy, but I felt guilty for supporting a store that opened on Christmas Day.

Good thing my parents don't live in Massachusetts. An article in today's Boston Globe talks about how many of the state's retailers are angry over the government's enforcement of blue laws, which prohibit businesses from opening on holidays, including Thanksgiving. Held over from the 17th century, the strictly enforced laws are a throwback to the state's Puritanical roots. Pharmacies and small grocers with three or less employees are exempt.

For most businesses, work will wind down for the week this afternoon as you and your employees head out to family feasts. But to not even have the choice of whether to open tomorrow has some Massachusetts business owners feeling less than thankful.

"The blue laws are antiquated and silly," said David Lannon, North Atlantic regional president for Whole Foods Market Inc., which has decided not to break the law by opening stores in Massachusetts tomorrow. "Customers want us to be open and people lead such busy lives that they'll shop when it's convenient."

Last year, Super 88, a local Asian grocery store, decided to defy the laws--and promptly drew attention from the police who shut down the store. Undeterred, Super 88 and electronics retailer CompUSA say they'll open their doors for a few hours again tomorrow.

Better grab your ice, dinner rolls (and candles) tonight if you live in Massachusetts. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at MyBusiness!

Posted by Shannon McRae on November 22, 2006 10:57 AM

The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization that monitors tax policy, recently named the best--and worst--states for business in its 2007 State Business Tax Climate Index. Wyoming topped the "business-friendly" list, while Rhode Island came in as the worst in the rankings. The foundation measured the competitiveness of each state’s tax system in five different sectors: corporate tax, individual income tax, sales tax, unemployment tax and property tax.

According to the foundation, the 10 best states for business are: Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, Nevada, Florida, Texas, New Hampshire, Montana, Delaware and Oregon. The 10 worst states are: Minnesota, Maine, Iowa, Nebraska, California, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Rhode Island. Read the full report here.

With Election Day less than a week away, NFIB is fighting for candidates who can deliver tax relief for small business. Read more about the tax issues that matter most to small-business owners here.

Posted by Jamie Roberts on November 1, 2006 10:26 AM

With elections just a few days away, one issue that doesn't seem to be bothering small-business owners is the economy. A Discover Small Business Watch survey released today found that during the past month business owners reported big jumps in cash flow and a greater willingness to invest in business development. Forty-four percent rated the economy as "excellent" or "good." Sixty-one percent reported they had no cash-flow issues.

This survey is a little more upbeat than the most recent numbers available from NFIB's Small-Business Optimism Index. In September, NFIB reported that while the labor market was very strong, small-business owners were less confident about the overall economy. The Optimism Index rose from the August reading, but NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg remained cautious.

Now with the stock market experiencing robust growth in recent weeks and the Fed keeping inflation in check, business owners seem to be responding with greater certainty about their economic futures.

Posted by Shannon McRae on October 30, 2006 03:07 PM

Are you more worried about the cost of a tank of gas or a visit to the doctor's office? According to a new study by PNC Financial Services, energy has overtaken health-insurance costs as the No. 1 problem small- and mid-sized business owners want to see addressed in the miderm elections.

USA Today's blog points out that the survey was conducted before energy prices fell (before they started to rise again). But as cold weather sets in (and as prices likely continue to rise) energy-cost concerns won't be going away any time soon.

NFIB monitors what small-business owners are thinking in its Problems and Priorities surveys. In the most recent edition, health-care costs still topped the list (while energy came in at No. 4). But the top spots on this survey are a lot like the college football top 25--any number of teams deserve the No. 1 spot (except, unfortunately, my Auburn Tigers).

Posted by Shannon McRae on October 11, 2006 12:41 PM

Finally, something from the federal government that is useful for small-business owners. Business.gov, dubbed as "the official business link to the U.S. government," relaunches today, providing one-stop shopping for business owners looking for information on how to comply with government regulations.

Managed by the Small Business Administration, Business.gov compiles information from 21 federal agencies in an effort to improve the way the federal government serves citizens and businesses.

First launched in 2004, Business.gov originally focused on resources for starting, growing and managing a business. But focus groups revealed that what business owners really wanted was help dealing with the all the paperwork and rules about running a business. The easy-to-navigate site is divided into topics and industries.

Posted by Shannon McRae on October 2, 2006 10:09 AM

Bob Blue is staying put. Since March, the future was uncertain for his family-owned luggage shop on the posh corner of Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood, Calif.

We last spoke to Blue in the June/July 2006 issue of MyBusiness, when we featured him and other small-business owners who were caught in local eminent-domain battles. The story focused on a 2005 Supreme Court ruling that gave local governments the right to condemn and seize private property for outside private development.

Bernard Lugguage, founded by Blue's father in 1943, was targeted by some local council members who backed a neighborhood redevelopment project. Their project called for demolishing the historic building where Bernard Luggage was located to make room for high-end boutiques, restaurants and a hotel.

But thanks to Blue's determination, and help from the NFIB Legal Foundation, the city decided yesterday to include the Blue's building in the redevelopment plans.

"I am really proud of this decision and the agreement everyone was able to come to," Blue told this CBS affiliate. "I think this is a benefit, not only for Hollywood, but for all of L.A., and I think it's a plan that the rest of the state can look at as a way to do business."

Not all the surrounding business owners were as fortunate as Blue. Twenty will still be forced to relocate or shut down.

Posted by Shannon McRae on September 28, 2006 12:29 PM

As the weather cools off, so does the optimism of America's small-business owners. In August, NFIB's Small-Business Optimism Index fell more than two points to 95.9, the lowest reading recorded since March 2003.

Borrowing difficulites seem to be the main trigger of the downward turn. Regular borrowing activity was reported by 46 percent of owners, up eight points from July, and the highest level recorded in the survey's 20-year history.

"Credit has become more expensive. It's significant that more owners want it and a higher percentage of owners are having a tougher time getting it," said Bill Dunkelberg, NFIB's chief economist. "Owners expect the coming months to bring increased borrowing difficulties."

Two positive signs in the monthly survey: the percent of firms with unfilled job openings and the percent of owners planning to create new jobs.

Posted by Shannon McRae on September 13, 2006 04:11 PM

Five years and one day ago, Chuck Call, CEO of Albuquerque-based ICx MesoSystems, could have never guessed how his business would change. In the five years since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the company has sold about 600 of its air-sampling devices, which are capable of sniffing out bioterrosim agents, to federal, state and local agencies, driving up ICx’s sales this year to $7 million.

According to a story in USA Today, the events of 9/11 caused the homeland security business to boom. The industry now accounts for more annual revenue than the movei-making or music industries.

Though corporations have been the big winners of government contracts, small businesses have gained their share of new business as well. In the last fiscal year (which ended in June) small businesses accountd for 33 percent of all contract dollars spent by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. That exceeds the U.S. Small Business Administration's goal of having 25 percent of all contracts go to small companies.

Posted by Shannon McRae on September 11, 2006 04:25 PM

A new survey about the small-business take on the U.S. economy reveals similar findings to what we've been hearing recently: Things are OK, not bad, not great. According to a survey by Discover Business Card, small-business owners are more optimistic about the overall economy than the general population: 39 percent of business owners rate the economy as "excellent" or "good," compared to 34 percent for the general population. But in looking into their crystal balls, almost 60 percent of small-business owners surveyed feel economic conditions are getting worse.

This recent news is in-line with results from the monthly NFIB Small-Business Economic Trends. While small-business optimism took a dip in May and June, it crept back up again in July signaling that business owners aren't quite sure what to make of the current market. Luckily the Fed is responding by raising interest rates in hopes of slowing demand enough to keep firms from raising prices, thus staving any worries of rising inflation.

In the meantime, small-business owners will keep plugging away--and serving as the most reliable indicators to where the economy is headed.

Posted by Shannon McRae on August 30, 2006 11:33 AM

Last Friday's monthly jobs report from the Labor Department was hardly good news. Analysts expected the new jobs number to be higher. So why are the government numbers so weak when other economic indicators appear positive?

The problem lies in the way we measure it, according to a post today on USA Today's small-business blog. Pointing to comments from TV commentator and blogger Lawrence Kudlow, USA Today asks: "Which of Labor's two employment measures -- the household survey or the payrolls survey -- more accurately measures changes in jobs?"

It's a long-standing debate among those who try to monitor this stuff. Kudlow argues that the smaller household survey captures small-business job creation that the larger payrolls survey misses. But critics take issue with the household survey's methods: Its figures are based off what indviduals report, while the payroll numbers draw from hard data.

Posted by Shannon McRae on July 17, 2006 10:38 AM

This morning, the White House released new figures projecting a much lower deficit than it had predicted just a few months ago. Doesn't that sound like good news? However, when it comes to deficit statistics, no good news is left unanswered. Indeed, spinning statistics for political purposes is an art: For example, in the AP article, the "positive" spin on today's announcement is this: "When measured against the size of the economy — at 2.3 percent of gross domestic product — the 2006 deficit would be lower than the deficits of 17 of the past 25 years." The negative spin: "The 2006 deficit may be lower, but it represents a $600 billion swing from the surplus projected in 2001. And a deficit of $296 billion is still a large deficit. In nominal terms, it's one of the four largest in history." Half full? Half empty? Apparently, it depends on who's looking. Perhaps we can all agree the deficit is heading in the right direction.

Posted by Rex Hammock on July 11, 2006 10:39 AM

Here's one of those topics that gets debated in policy-wonk circles that's fairly obvious to the rest of us: Most new jobs are created by small businesses. Via USA Today's Jim Hopkins comes a link to a .PDF newsletter from the SBA's Office of Advocacy that highlights the job-creation numbers from the most recent year with data, 2003. Writes Jim: "Employer firms with fewer than 500 employees created 1,990,326 net new jobs, whereas large firms with 500 or more employees shed 994,667 net jobs. In other words, small businesses created nearly two million jobs after you subtract those they eliminated. On the other hand, big companies -- defined as those with 500 or more workers -- cut far more jobs than they created."

Posted by Rex Hammock on July 10, 2006 01:26 PM

When is a big business a small business? Apparently, when there are federal government contracts at stake. The New York Times has an article today (subscription required) asserting that last year, at least $4.9 billion worth of contracts, earmarked for small businesses, went to 13 of the largest government contractors. According to the Times, "For years, government studies show, large corporations like GTSI, Boeing, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman have been counted as small businesses either through legal loopholes, via acquisitions or simply by mistake. And despite some efforts by the federal government to correct the mistakes, problems persist."

Posted by Rex Hammock on July 6, 2006 07:39 AM

Buying new tires is a necessary expense, but I wasn't looking forward to navigating the confusing offers of dozens of auto repair shops. Imagine my relief when I found a shop with honest, helpful mechanics--who just happen to be longtime small-business owners. Rhea Little and his son, "Little" Rhea, have been in their Brentwood, Tenn., business for 42 years, and observing their patient and instructive interactions with customers, it's easy to see why. (They even stayed late on a Saturday afternoon to put on my new wheels, and it now drives like a dream!)

You can save small shops like the Littles' by giving them access to the same repair information that manufacturers have. Learn more and support the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair act by going here.

Posted by Jamie Roberts on July 5, 2006 11:01 AM

eBay's CEO Meg Whitman is joining several hundred small-business owners "taking it to the Hill" today, visiting their lawmakers as part of the NFIB Small-Business Summit. What? eBay is a multi-billion dollar international corporation so what's the company's CEO doing hanging out with a bunch of small-business owners? In an early-morning address to the group, Whitman explained that more than 700,000 eBayers are operating either their primary or part-time businesses through eBay. While she admitted that eBay founders and executives were slow to realize it, eBay has become one of the primary e-commerce platforms for small businesses--"It has leveled the playing field of the Internet," she said. Issues like access to affordable health-insurance coverage and tax simplification are concerns that eBay sellers and NFIB members alike are working on in Congress, so Whitman is here representing eBay's small-business sellers, she explained. (See full coverage of Whitman's address at NFIB.com.)

Posted by Rex Hammock on June 20, 2006 07:22 AM

Superstar election handicappers Stuart Rothenberg and Charlie Cook gazed into the crystal ball (and their extensive survey data) regarding this November's congressional elections and peered way into the political future with 2008 presidential nomination predictions during a late-afternoon session at the NFIB Small-Business Summit. Looking at the general mood of the electorate and examining "macro" data indicates Democrats will have a good November, Charlie Cook said. However, when one takes a "seat-by-seat" micro look at each individual House race, the picture is not as clear. With a lot of interesting and entertaining punditry along the way, the two agreed on this prediction: the Republicans will retain control of the Senate with a thin margin. And the House? A toss-up at this point. As for nomination prospects in the 2008 election, the two agreed that the current front runners are Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain.

Posted by Rex Hammock on June 19, 2006 04:00 PM

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour traveled to the NFIB Small-Business Summit to make an emotional appeal to the hundreds of business owners attending from around the country. Rebuilding the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina offers great opportunities for entrepreneurs, he explained to the spellbound, standing-room-only luncheon. "I love our state's large employers but where the rubber meets the road, smalll business and entreprentuers, family businesses and risk-takers, are going to be the folks who rebuild the coast." He urged the small-business owners to view opportunities in the Katrina-affected area as "a win-win deal. It's good for you and it's good for my state," he said. Expanding business into the area is a chance to "do well and do good" at the same time. "I'm very proud of my state and our people and how the people have shown their strength. I know full well that 10 years from now, we'll look back and say, 'those guys after Katrina understood it right--look what small business has done on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.'" Full coverage of Gov. Barbour's remarks can be found at NFIB.com.

(Online resources related to small businesses and post-Katrina efforts.)

Posted by Rex Hammock on June 19, 2006 12:16 PM

Tom Sullivan's role at the SBA is somewhat like that of an ombudsman. He's an "insider" at a government agency--appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate--but his job is to keep the spotlight on regulatory and administrative actions of the government. "Many times, a new regulation sounds reasonable, but when the regulations are carried out, they can result in an unnecessary burden on small business. We sometimes spend months explaining to an agency why some regulation is not necessary and can have unintended negative impact on small business." In a breakout session this morning at the NFIB Small-Business Summit, Tom is taking those of us in the room through a litany of examples where individual small-business owners, often through NFIB, have brought to light a burdensome regulation. Now, states are enacting regulatory flexibility legislation that, like a similar federal law, requires regulators to review the impact of new rules on small business. There's a lot of work to do to educate small-business owners and state agencies, says Sullivan. "But, agencies have to want to do the analysis," says Sullivan. "If they don't, it will be an adversarial situation and the agencies won't cooperate. In some states, like Wisconsin, they have administrators who truly believe that regulatory flexibility makes their jobs better and encourages small-business growth in that state. They now believe regulatory flexibility makes their state more attractive to entrepreneurs."

Posted by Rex Hammock on June 19, 2006 09:12 AM

Professor Jeff Cornwall (and Entrepreneurial Mind blogger) notes that jitters regarding inflation are spooking the stock market -- and small business owners. "Many entrepreneurs have never had to do business in an age of inflation. In fact, the last bad inflationary period we had was almost thirty years ago. Since then, careful control of the economy with interest rate policy has helped to keep things in check," he notes. Here is some of his advice for coping with inflation:

Keep overhead low.

Build cash reserves to buffer short term price increases that precede higher prices on your part.

Watch your margins carefully. Worry about growing profits, not sales.

Don't lock into long-term contracts that have narrow margins with large customers.

When inflation heats up even a little, be aggressive with frequent small price increases rather than waiting and trying to catch up at some point with one big jump.

Pay down variable interest loans ASAP. As long as there is inflation, interest rates will keep going up.

Posted by Rex Hammock on June 12, 2006 09:27 PM

Susette Kelo may be evicted from her pink home soon, following a vote last week by New London, Conn.'s City Council. Kelo and her neighbors sparked a national debate last summer when their lawsuit against their hometown reached the Supreme Court. The homeowners claimed the city could not evoke eminent domain to seize their property and transfer ownership from one private owner to another. The City of New London is condemning Kelo's house (and others like it) to make room for a private health club, office space and other unspecified development projects. The Supreme Court outraged property owners by siding with the city. Now home and business owners must worry about being sent packing if local government decides an owner's property is better suited for bigger businesses.

The June/July issue of MyBusiness follows two small-business owners caught in eminent-domain battles keep their property. Though 47 states have introduced, considered or passed legislation reining in private-to-private eminent-domain abuse, it may be too late for Kelo. The Council's evication vote signaled Kelo's fight may soon be over--and she may be forced to move.

Posted by Shannon McRae on June 11, 2006 07:46 PM

Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama outlines why he supports the permanent repeal of the death tax in an opinion piece appearing in today's Washington Post. The repeal could be voted on as early as this week by the U.S. Senate. Here are some of the reasons Sen. Sessions (and in response to several member ballots on the topic, NFIB members) support the permanent repeal of the death tax:

"The death tax is a tax imposed on the transfer of assets or property from a deceased person to his or her heirs. This is one of the IRS's most painful taxes, as it hits families at the worst possible time, when they are dealing with the death of a loved one. Congress passed a gradual phaseout of this tax at the urging of President Bush in 2001, and it was scheduled to disappear in 2010. But because of the peculiarities of the lawmaking process, the death tax will return in 2011 -- at the same high rates that existed before -- unless Congress enacts new legislation. In April 2005 the House passed a permanent repeal of the death tax by a vote of 272 to 162. Over a year has passed since; it is time for the Senate to act. The list of reasons for eliminating the death tax is long. To begin with, this tax punishes thrift and saving. It tells people that it's better to spend freely during their lifetimes than to leave assets for their children and grandchildren, which will be taxed heavily by the federal government. The death tax hits hardest at heirs of small-business owners and family farmers. In many cases, the heirs cannot afford to pay the tax and are forced to downsize, lay off employees or even sell their business or farm. There can be no doubt that closely held family businesses that are growing and beginning to compete with the big guys are often devastated by the tax. I believe the death tax is a major factor in business consolidation and loss of competition."

For up-to-date information from NFIB about the fight to repeal the death tax, visit: NFIB.com. Posted by Rex Hammock on June 5, 2006 02:04 PM

The Land of Opportunity provides a pathway to business ownership for many immigrants, according to a Kauffman Foundation study highlighted in this American City Business Journals article. The study found that immigrants are more likely to be entrepreneurs than native-born Americans, an interesting stat to consider regardless of which side of the fence you fall on in the immigration debate.

An article in the current issue of MyBusiness profiles a business owner born in Vietnam who followed her dream of entrepreneurship when she came to the United States at the age of 17. Today, Luna Howard runs a successful salon on Capitol Hill and was even tapped by the First Family to style hair during Bush's most recent inauguration.

Posted by Shannon McRae on June 5, 2006 08:55 AM

A record $2 billion in disaster loan applications have been approved by the Small Business Administration for the hurricane-devastated Gulf Coast region. Another $685 million in conventional business loans have been delivered to small businesses in affected areas.

"Putting money into the hands of businesses in the Gulf Coast communities remains our top priority," said SBA Administrator Hector V. Barreto. "These businesses are the economic foundation of the region's renewal and spirit, and we are going to stay on the job until it’s done."

For more information on the SBA’s disaster assistance programs, click here.

Posted by Jamie Roberts on May 17, 2006 02:23 PM

Just five votes. That’s how close small-business owners were to real health-insurance reform last week. Unfortunately, the Senate acted as roadblock yet again to Small-Business Health Plans, crucial legislation that would help make health insurance more accessible and affordable to small-business owners and their employees.

In a sometime-confusing procedural vote, SBHP supporters fell just five votes short of the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture, which basically would have cut off debate and allowed the bill to move forward to a vote. Because of the Senate schedule, it is unlikely, although not impossible, that this legislation will come back to the Senate floor again this year, according to NFIB’s President Todd Stottlemyer. Read more of his comments on last week’s vote on NFIB.com.

Despite defeat this time, small-business owners won’t go away quietly. November’s midterm elections are the perfect chance to send packing those senators who didn’t support the much-needed reform. NFIB is mobilizing members of its Political Action Team. Go here to learn how you can get involved.

Posted by Shannon McRae on May 15, 2006 10:00 AM

Years of work by NFIB at creating affordable health-insurance options for small business may come down to a critical U.S. Senate vote this week. The full Senate is expected to take up S. 1955 for a vote on Thursday. The bill would create Small-Business Health Plans, a way for small businesses to join together across state lines to negotiate for more affordable and accessible health insurance. NFIB.com has a web-based service that will allow you to contact your senators, letting them know of your support.

Posted by Rex Hammock on May 8, 2006 10:55 AM

Today, the New York Times profiles the efforts of NFIB in support of legislation that will allow the creation of small-business health plans. Quote:

"The NFIB is among the top five lobbying groups in the capital," said James A. Thurber, director for the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University, "in the same rank with the AARP and the N.R.A., for example, even though they have far fewer members."

Posted by Rex Hammock on May 4, 2006 06:44 PM

To promote positive and safe work experiences for youth employees of small businesses across the country, NFIB and the Department of Labor together have formed YouthRules! In this partnership, they will work together to develop and distribute information through print and electronic media to help keep youth workers safe.

Today's Tools and Tips column on NFIB.com deals with the expanded protections for under-18 workers in cooking, roofing and driving jobs, and offers details on the latest amendments to rules pertaining to youth workers in those industries as well.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on May 4, 2006 12:10 PM

Health-care initiatives were the focus of President Bush’s speech to members of the American Hospital Association Wednesday. President Bush has long advocated for Small-Business Health Plans, which allow small firms to join together across state line to buy insurance at the same discounts as larger companies.

The Senate is expected to vote on Small-Business Health Plans in early May. Find the current status on the legislation and ways you can help pass SBHPs on the SBHPs Now! Web site.

Posted by Jamie Roberts on May 3, 2006 01:51 PM

John Mann’s fuel costs have almost doubled in recent months, and the owner of Buffalo, N.Y.-based 1-2-3 Delivery may have to his raise prices to keep up. With 52 delivery vans and three large trucks, Mann, like so many other small-business owners, has been hit hard at the pump.

If you’re worried about absorbing higher fuel costs in your business this summer, it might be time to think about trading in some of your vehicles for cars that get better gas mileage. CNNMoney.com picks the most fuel-efficient cars in five categories. The article also includes easy ways to pinch a few pennies when you’re picking out a new car, like opting for a smaller V-6 engine over a V-8 and passing up the four-wheel or all-wheel drive option.

Posted by Shannon McRae on May 1, 2006 07:16 AM

At a press conference in Washington, D.C., yesterday, NFIB President Todd Stottlemyer was joined by Sens. Michael B. Enzi (Wyo.), Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Conrad Burns (Mont.) in urging the U.S. Senate to pass Small-Business Health Plans legislation slated for a floor vote next week.

"The nation’s No. 1 job creators have waited long enough to be treated fairly," Stottlemyer said. "Small-business owners compete with large corporations for employees, yet they are still unable to offer competitive benefit packages. It’s time for the Senate to put its trust in small business, rather than in the mercy of insurance companies, and allow them to negotiate good benefits for their employees and family members."

Small-Business Health Plans would level the playing field for small businesses by allowing them to join together across state lines through trade and professional associations to purchase affordable health benefits.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on April 27, 2006 04:20 PM

As summer approaches, high-school and college students will be taking a break from the books. Why not put them to work in your small business? Whether you're planning to hire your next door neighbor's child or your own, there are rules that limit the number of hours and the type of job teenagers can work. The Department of Labor created YouthRules!, a Web site full of resources, tips and frequently asked questions to keep employers straight. The rules aren't too complicated, but penalties for breaking them are substantial. The time students spend in your small business might inspire them to start businesses themselves one day. Help teenagers you know get a jump on business ownership by introducing them to the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation scholarship awards program, created to help fuel the future of America's free enterprise system.

Posted by Shannon McRae on April 24, 2006 07:08 AM

One-hundred years ago tomorrow, the Great San Francisco Earthquake struck, touching off fires that burned for three days and destroyed more than 500 blocks of the city. Damage was estimated at $8.2 billion by today’s standards.

Small-business owners in this century certainly have witnessed their share of disasters in recent years. Yet a recent study by MasterCard found that the majority of small-business owners don’t believe a natural disaster will affect their business in the next 12 months. You know the old Boy Scout adage: Be prepared. Take a few minutes to check out the Small Business Administration’s disaster preparedness site to make sure you're covered.

Posted by Shannon McRae on April 17, 2006 07:21 AM

Optimism among small-business owners took an unexpected tumble in March. The NFIB Small-Business Optimism Index lost 3.5 points, falling to 98.0 (1986=100), two points below the 30-year average. While profit trends improved, inventory investment and reported sales trends remained strong (virtually unchanged from February), labor market indicators sagged and capital spending plans faded along with weaker expectations for gains in real sales. Declines in job creation plans and job openings accounted for 30 percent of the drop in the index, weaker real sales expectations 40 percent, and the decline in the outlook for overall business conditions contributed 20 percent of the drop. “Although the first quarter will be very strong, something spooked small-business owners in March about the future course of the economy,” said NFIB Chief Economist and MyBusiness columnist William Dunkelberg. “The decline could indicate that owners think the economy is strong, but they don't expect it to get any better, or the economy is weak and they expect growth will slow substantially. The April survey could provide the answer.”

Posted by Rex Hammock on April 11, 2006 07:24 PM

This morning, the U.S. Labor Department released the latest snapshot of the U.S. labor market and the picture looks good. Employers boosted payrolls by a sizable 211,000 in March in a springtime hiring burst that pushed the unemployment rate down to 4.7 percent. "The American economy has now added jobs for 31 months in a row," President Bush said. As usual, the report is in line with earlier predictions of NFIB chief economist and MyBusiness columnist Bill Dunkelberg. Here's his take on recent economic news from the current issue of the magazine.

Posted by Rex Hammock on April 7, 2006 07:46 AM

After years of hard work by NFIB members, a Senate vote has finally been scheduled for Small-Business Health Plans in May. SBHPs level the playing field for small-business owners, and a big push is on to encourage your senators to vote in favor of this important legislation. In the current issue of MyBusiness magazine, we profile two small-business owners who are living through the nightmare of escalating health-care costs—and desperately need relief soon.

Posted by Jamie Roberts on April 6, 2006 11:17 AM

With the number of complex regulations already looming over the heads of small-business owners, NFIB knows that adding state-mandated health care only makes the burden worse. That’s why this week the NFIB Legal Foundation filed an amicus brief in a case against Maryland’s recently passed Fair Share Health Care Fund Act, also known as the “Wal-Mart bill.”

Why does a small business organization care about legislation that only affects a giant employer? "It’s a slippery slope." After states force big businesses to offer coverage, small businesses will be their next target. In Maryland, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Washington, discussions have already begun on whether to require small businesses to offer health insurance or be subject to a payroll tax.

Posted by Rex Hammock on March 30, 2006 12:30 PM

The death tax kills small businesses. NFIB understands this, and that’s why it's been leading the fight for full death tax repeal for years. Now, NFIB and small-business owners are gearing up for the Senate’s approaching vote on full repeal.

Posted by Laura Creekmore on March 24, 2006 05:03 AM

Small-business owners are watching the results of next week's Senate HELP Committee markup closely. For years, NFIB and many other small-business groups have fought to pass Small-Business Health Plans. Will they get a vote on the Senate floor this year?

Only time will tell. NFIB is supporting this legislation, which would allow small businesses to band together across state lines, making health insurance much cheaper. Contact your senators today and tell them what you think.

Posted by Laura Creekmore on March 9, 2006 02:56 PM