What Are You Worried About?
ROI
WE BREAK DOWN THE INFORMATION THAT MATTE R S MO ST TO YO UR B USI NE SS
What Are You Worried About? While small business owners share some universal concerns, other issues have regional roots. Here’s a look at what keeps business owners across the United States up at night.
1. 2. 3.
Environmental regulations Obtaining long-term (5+ year) business loans Obtaining short-term (less than 12 months or revolving) business loans 4. Finding out about regulatory requirements 5. Cost of government-required equipment/procedures 6. Health/safety regulations 7. Poor sales 8. Dealing with IRS/state tax agencies 9. Frequent changes in federal tax laws and rules 10. Anti-competitive practices (i.e., price-fixing)
OBSTACLE COURSES NFIB members say these are their top 10 concerns. Percent who say it’s a critical problem
DARK HORSES NFIB members across the country say these problems are getting harder for them to handle.
Cost of health insurance
52%
38% 35% Uncertainty over government actions 35% Unreasonable government regulations 34% Federal taxes on business income 30% Tax complexity 29% Frequent changes in federal tax laws and rules 24% Property taxes 24% State taxes on business income 24% Uncertainty over economic conditions
Cost of natural gas, propane and fuel oil
STATE SORROWS NFIB members in each region identified their most important problem.
23%
13%
Pacific
New England
Regulations
25%
West North Central
19%
Regulations
Mountain
23%
East North Central
Regulations
Poor sales and regulations
Insurance and regulations
21%
Mid Atlantic
Regulations
20%
20%
South Atlantic
West South Central
Poor sales
Regulations
20%
East South Central
Poor sales and regulations Sources: “Small Business Problems & Priorities,” NFIB, 2012; NFIB Research Foundation
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May/June 2014
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4/21/14 11:29 AM
WE BREAK DOWN THE INFORMATION THAT MATTE R S MO ST TO YO UR B USI NE SS
What Are You Worried About? While small business owners share some universal concerns, other issues have regional roots. Here’s a look at what keeps business owners across the United States up at night.
1. 2. 3.
Environmental regulations Obtaining long-term (5+ year) business loans Obtaining short-term (less than 12 months or revolving) business loans 4. Finding out about regulatory requirements 5. Cost of government-required equipment/procedures 6. Health/safety regulations 7. Poor sales 8. Dealing with IRS/state tax agencies 9. Frequent changes in federal tax laws and rules 10. Anti-competitive practices (i.e., price-fixing)
OBSTACLE COURSES NFIB members say these are their top 10 concerns. Percent who say it’s a critical problem
DARK HORSES NFIB members across the country say these problems are getting harder for them to handle.
Cost of health insurance
52%
38% 35% Uncertainty over government actions 35% Unreasonable government regulations 34% Federal taxes on business income 30% Tax complexity 29% Frequent changes in federal tax laws and rules 24% Property taxes 24% State taxes on business income 24% Uncertainty over economic conditions
Cost of natural gas, propane and fuel oil
STATE SORROWS NFIB members in each region identified their most important problem.
23%
13%
Pacific
New England
Regulations
25%
West North Central
19%
Regulations
Mountain
23%
East North Central
Regulations
Poor sales and regulations
Insurance and regulations
21%
Mid Atlantic
Regulations
20%
20%
South Atlantic
West South Central
Poor sales
Regulations
20%
East South Central
Poor sales and regulations Sources: “Small Business Problems & Priorities,” NFIB, 2012; NFIB Research Foundation
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