The debate about raising the minimum wage is a hot topic, and the impact to small businesses is a sticking point in the argument. But what do real small businesses think about raising the wage?
As vice president of policy & strategy of Small Business Majority, I can report that our scientific opinion poll found 57 percent support increasing the federal minimum wage to $10.10.
Tim Gaudette
A new report released by the National Park Service, detailed in Jason Blevin’s article, “Government shutdown tapped 18.2 percent from Estes Park’s sales-tax take,” shows just how devastating the government shutdown’s closure of our national parklands was to local economies. Unfortunately, this isn’t news to our small business community.
By: John Arensmeyer, CEO of Small Business Majority and Christine Owens, Executive Director of the National Employment Law Project
Debate about raising the minimum wage is a hot topic, and the impact to small businesses is a sticking point in the argument. But what do real small businesses think about raising the wage? Small Business Majority asked in a scientific opinion poll and found 57 percent support increasing the federal minimum wage to $10.10.
Last week, the president directed the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation to move forward with the next round of fuel efficiency standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks by March 2016. This is great news for small business owners who, according to our polling, overwhelmingly support greater fuel efficiency standards because they will help save on fuel costs and boost entrepreneurs’ bottom lines.
John Arensmeyer
If there’s one thing small business owners are always on the lookout for, it’s talent. Talented employees help them grow and thrive. But simply keeping their eyes peeled isn’t always good enough — often times they have to find creative ways to suss out the best and the brightest.
Every year around this time, we think about what the year ahead might bring and how we can make it better than the last. To make 2014 a success, we must find ways to bolster our still-recovering economy. Supporting the middle class is one way to do that. A recent study indicates income inequality is at the highest it’s been in 100 years, with the top 10 percent of earners taking more than half the country’s total income in 2012.
Holiday sales are vital to a business’s bottom line. In fact, the holiday season can generate as much as 20 to 40 percent of annual sales for many small and mid-sized retailers.
While tax day is behind us, most small business owners have likely filed extensions to let them continue combing through the tax code looking for ways to keep their hard-earned dollars in their own coffers instead of in Uncle Sam’s. Fortunately, there have been some encouraging developments recently in Congress that could significantly impact small businesses.
John Arensmeyer
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