Our Research
Policymakers at all levels, from town councils to the halls of Capitol Hill, emphasize the challenges of small businesses as a key talking point during political debates. But new opinion polling in four states—Illinois, Missouri, Virginia and Wisconsin—reveals small businesses feel their government officials don’t actually understand their challenges, and they support a wide array of policies to address their needs, some of which might come as a surprise to their elected officials.
This Chicago-based research explores issues related to small business workforce development, particularly for business owners of color located in low- and moderate-income communities. Small Business Majority interviewed and convened local small business owners and business service organizations for roundtable discussions during a six-month research project to learn about key challenges in hiring and managing employees. Overall, the research indicates that small business owners have limited capacity and resources to improve workforce management.
The Colorado state legislature is considering a bill that would make Colorado the seventh state in the country to establish a program guaranteeing access to paid leave to care for a newborn child or a sick family member. Small business owners and their employees are particularly affected by the current lack of access to paid family leave as many small businesses can’t afford to offer robust benefits, putting them at a disadvantage with their larger counterparts. Small business has been central to ongoing debates over the legislation, and new polling sheds light on their views on the proposal and their struggles to offer access to paid family and medical leave benefits.
California small business owners broadly support proposed healthcare reforms that would expand access and address affordability, according to new scientific opinion polling. The poll found large majorities of California small business owners support expanding the existing system of premium subsidies to help more people purchase insurance. They also broadly support other proposals aimed at addressing underlying cost and affordability issues across the healthcare system.
This report compiles findings from focus groups and roundtable discussions with rural small business owners and other small business stakeholders in four states, as well as the results of a national poll of rural small business owners. The report also features recommendations for policymakers and service providers to increase opportunities for rural entrepreneurs.
Small Business Majority published a report that assesses the impact of the Affordable Care Act on small business owners, their employees and self-employed individuals. The report shows uninsured rates have dramatically decreased among small business owners and employees and small business healthcare costs have stabilized under the ACA.
New scientific opinion polling found small business owners believe investing in infrastructure is important to their business, and they feel the federal government should play a significant role in funding infrastructure projects. Additionally, small business owners strongly support high-speed broadband infrastructure projects, especially in rural areas.
Recent scientific opinion polling reveals small business and freelancers need more flexible retirement options. The poll found small employers struggle to offer retirement benefits, and are increasingly turning to independent workers to meet their needs. Additionally, small employers overwhelmingly support state-administered retirement savings plans and other policies that would make it easier for them to offer retirement benefits.
A new scientific opinion poll found small business owners support commonsense business regulations and do not feel current levels of regulation are a top business concern. The poll also found current levels of regulation are not a top concern for our nation’s small business owners, and they do not support rolling back all federal regulations on businesses.
Recent scientific opinion polling found small business owners are broadly supportive of a range of policies that would support responsible lending. Specifically, the poll found 77% of small business owners support a policy that would lift a cap on credit union lending and an overwhelming 87% support a “truth in lending” act for small business loans to increase transparency, among support for other policies.