Small businesses are working tirelessly to grow from their modest beginnings, adding new jobs and gradually increasing productivity. But according to a new study, there is a lot of frustration with Washington today, as many entrepreneurs believe the federal government has been an impediment to successful business banking.
According to a survey conducted by Pepperdine University and Dun and Bradstreet Credibility Corporation, 42 percent of small business owners believe that government regulations are the most significant factor impeding economic growth, a large increase from the 32 percent of respondents who felt this way in 2012. Respondents said regulations often make business banking not only more expensive, but more time-consuming as well.
Terry Robinson, president of Sunovis Financial, corroborated the notion that small businesses are becoming increasingly agitated by lawmakers.
"We talk to small business owners every day, and we hear the frustrations and dismay," Robinson said. "They are unable to access credit, they are being stymied by regulations and are worried about growing their businesses – or even surviving in some cases. We think this is a serious problem for the U.S. in general, since small business is the engine of the economy."
Further troubles with Washington
The situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. CBS recently reported that small businesses are likely to lose 1 million jobs in 2013 because of the sequester cuts, and according to the Washington Examiner, small healthcare firms are also being hurt by Obamacare. Because federally mandated healthcare coverage has been alienating smaller organizations, there are now 3.2 million small business jobs in jeopardy.
Pepperdine's study shows a grim picture of employment. Of the businesses surveyed, 77 percent plan to hire between zero and two employees in the next six months, and 45 percent said precisely zero. Furthermore, 55 percent said no pay raises were coming in 2013.
While things don't look good for the dynamic between the nation's government and its enterprises today, there are solutions being discussed. Pepperdine's respondents had a few suggestions, in fact – 28 percent of those polled recommended regulatory reform to help fix the muddled situation, while 28 percent voted for tax incentives and 26 percent want better access to capital. Small businesses have gotten the short end of the stick lately, but the fight for a better future lives on.