Our Research: Taxes, Budget & Economy
Small business owners are the backbone of our economy, yet they feel at a disadvantage when it comes to tax policies, especially those that favor large corporations, and support targeted policies they see as benefitting the vast majority of small firms, not those that only benefit a few.
Over the past several months, Small Business Majority hosted five roundtable discussions with nearly 50 small business owners in Cortland, Long Island, Queens and Manhattan focusing on many of the biggest challenges small businesses are facing today, including rising healthcare costs, unpredictable tariffs, rising inflation and unaffordable living, difficulty accessing capital, workforce shortages and childcare access. The entrepreneurs also shared how running a business in 2026 can require mental and physical sacrifice as these challenges continue to escalate.
This national opinion poll of likely voters, conducted for Small Business Majority by Lake Research Partners, reveals overwhelming bipartisan support for small businesses and pro-small business policies. Voters believe by dramatic margins that the success of small business is better for their families and the economy than the success of large corporations, and it’s personally important to them that local small businesses in their communities thrive.
Small businesses are navigating a sharp squeeze on Main Street, according to Small Business Majority’s latest Voice of Main Street poll released on March 25, 2026. Most entrepreneurs report rising expenses alongside falling revenues, with costs driven by tariffs, healthcare premiums, utilities, and supplies. At the same time, many say weak consumer demand, difficulty meeting payroll, and concerns about corporate consolidation are limiting growth and forcing tough choices—from raising prices to delaying hiring and investment.
On November 13, 2025, Small Business Majority released a research report examining the challenges small businesses face from rising healthcare premiums and increased immigration enforcement. The survey found that two-thirds of small business owners view higher healthcare costs as a significant financial burden and strongly support extending the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits. Entrepreneurs also reported negative effects from immigration enforcement and expressed strong support for modernizing the legal immigration system and creating pathways to citizenship for qualifying undocumented immigrants.
The State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) represents a critical federal investment in U.S. small businesses. Originally established under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and reauthorized under the American Rescue Plan in 2021, SSBCI provides states, territories and tribal governments with federal funding to incentivize small business lending. Through a range of programs, SSBCI helps ensure that entrepreneurs have access to the capital they need to launch and sustain their businesses. Our research and interviews with small business owners highlight both the successes and the challenges of the program. Based on these findings, we also developed recommendations to help states maximize SSBCI’s impact and ensure that dollars flow to the smallest and most under-resourced entrepreneurs who need them most.
As Congress and the administration consider 2025 policies, small business owners are raising concerns about rising tariffs, slowing growth, immigration policy impacts, and threats to healthcare from Medicaid cuts and ACA changes. Many are responding by raising prices or pausing expansion. They also oppose increasing the federal deficit to fund tax cuts for the wealthy and large corporations.
With key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) set to expire this year, Congress must decide how it wants to move forward when it comes to the tax code. This is notable because any potential changes to our tax system would have a profound impact on small businesses.
This Voice of Main Street poll shows entrepreneurs face major capital challenges and oppose the administration’s proposed spending cuts. Notably, 78% are concerned about cuts to the SBA, which provides vital resources small businesses need to succeed.
Small Business Majority’s February poll shows entrepreneurs are concerned about new tariffs and mass deportations. Over half fear tariffs will hurt their business, and 77% worry about economic impact. Deportation policies also raise concern, with 69% citing potential harm to the U.S. economy and 37% to their own or suppliers’ operations.
Small Business Majority’s new national opinion poll of small businesses reveals that they believe they’re not competing on a level playing field in the federal tax system with large corporations. While many small business owners are aware of and take advantage of the 20% pass-through deduction, the benefits of this deduction are skewed in favor of a small number of the wealthiest businesses. As a result, they support several reforms, including a fixed standard deduction. Additionally, entrepreneurs support maintaining increased IRS funding so that they can properly execute their mission to improve customer service and increased audits of wealthy taxpayers and large corporations.
