Small Biz Open Mic

What Burdens Does Your Small Business Face?

  • “We service the foodservice industry, from small restaurants to large chains, schools & hospitals. One fundamental hurdle is the price of fuel adding costs to everything. From food prices, creating & shipping parts. Everything gets passed onto the end user. Stability through commodity trading & regulating the oil businesses would help all aspects of this economy. Domestic oil should be drilled & utilized. Imagine $2.00/gal for diesel fuel would go a long way to improvement for everybody.”Ken Witte (Carlton, MN) Alberg Water Services
  • After surviving my first five years of business, there is no relief in sight for my two small business headaches; cost of gas and lack of cash flow. I do not understand why the high cost of gas is not a higher priority issue especially in this election year. Like other small business ownwers I have robbed my 401K and paid the huge penalties for early withdrawls to keep cash flowing. Several years ago, I thought there would be some rule changes so that I could use my own invested money without such harsh penalties but nothing has been done.Barry Somerville (Hendersonville, TN) Glass Lawn Mgt. and Landscaping
  • The projected costs of the new healthcare plan have made us reluctant to hire part time or full time workers. The governments continual distribution of 0% money to the banks has made them unfriendly to small business, they are strangling us. We invest with us when the government will allow them to take unlimited amounts of funds and turn around and buy T-bill rather than loan it. The continued growth of the people on welfare and unemployment is affecting the temporary labor market.Hugh Smith (Kutztown, PA)
  • 1. The 2013 implementation of the health spending bill will impose a tax burden on the firm, even though we have a health care plan, we understand that all firms will have to pay additional payroll taxes based on the gross payroll. This is a disincentive to hire new employees and adds a new tax burden that did not exist previously. 2. The 2013 implementation of the health spending bill, will also impose a 7% tax on real estate transactions. This is a disincentive for real estate transactions, which are a key component for the design and construction industry. 3. The state is considering a tax on professional services, which is a disincentive for professional service businesses and may add a new tax burden that did not exist previously. 4. The county is considering making all real estate development follow a lengthy public review process that removes all certainty from the approval review process. This is a disincentive for any business working in the real estate, design and construction industry in this jurisdiction. 5. Even in a strong, positive real estate, design and construction economic climate, design professional firms (architects and engineers) have an average profitability in the 3-4% range. Facing new taxes based upon gross payroll, that exceeds the net profits, leads one to question if remaining in business is economically viable in the future, particularly is a poor economic climate.Sara O'Neil-Manion (Bethesda, MD) O'Neil & Manion Architects P.A.

Tell Us About the Hurdles Your Small Business is Facing