Poll For Small Business Owners and Presidents, CEOs, and VPs of Small Businesses

[Mike 03]

Thank you in advance. You have a ton of courage to go into business by yourself.

What is your Number One concern right now, as a small business owner, CEO, CFO, COO, or VP, or anyone with a vested interest in a small business?

Thank you in advance for your participation in this poll.

[ixion]

1. Other: The economy sucks, and what I can charge is being depressed

by outsourcing.

[tosh]

2. Healthcare.

I'd like to be able to cover my employees. That would help me to compete with Big Corporate when trying to hire.

I would like for an option to NOT purchase it frrom the industry that has done us so much harm.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Small Bus. Web Content (Online Women's Magazine)

My greatest concern is getting this off the ground and being able to leave to devote my time to growing the business. But I cannot leave without the safety net of health insurance. I have ankylosing spondylitis. I will NOT be able to get health care. That's my greatest concern. I've planned this for 2 years, and because it's most freelance writers, my operating costs are very low. But I'd like to see it grow to 15-20 employees.


Right now - lack of health insurance for those with pre-existing conditions that DO have it with a current employer - is stifling the entrepreneurial spirit in America.

[Duke Newcombe]

4. Small Business Owner, here...

I run the whole show.

My worries, in no particular order of importance:

1. Not enough gigs/engagements to go around
2. Price I can charge artificially depressed by poor economic situation
3. Screwed-up business credit from last year means no lines of credit available at all - I'm funding my business/paying myself in realtime now.
4. Cost of health insurance for my family on the open market. Screw you and your insurance overlords, GOP and conservaDems!!!

[aungsungsuchi2]

5. car sales up today...

...

[katanalori]

6. nail-biter................

All funding for home loans (for the past year) has come from the federal govt. This will STOP on March 31. Will private investors step up and provide funds? Bill Gross (PIMPCO) says "NO."
If there are NO funds for home loans, my real estate company will not survive.
That means over 275 people (including agents and staff) without an income.

[Demeter]

7. My Business Died for Lack of Customers in 2004

9/11 took out tourists just when business was on verge of breaking even, then Michigan's general economy collapsed. I held on until Bush stole a second term and I had a major piece of equipment blow up. Never thought a President would go out of his way to put my business out of business...but it was nothing personal. He did that to the whole damn country. I just was on the leading edge.

Even If I could have held out until Obama arrived...he has done just as much damage as Bush. He can't even pass real health care reform--single payer--because he promised the hospitals and insurance financiers lots of tax money to pay big bonuses, bailed out Zombie banks, and left the rest of us to starve in the dust.

[ixion]

11. Sorry to hear about your business, Demeter

My dad lost his company of 12 years during the Ray-Gun recession in the 80's, so I can empathize.

My business went through a rough patch in the latter era of BushCo, and now through the continued 'lean' years during the Obama-Bush term. It's a daily struggle to hang on. I've got irons in the fire, as it were, but there just isn't much fire going these days. :(

[Coyote_Bandit]

8. Healthcare

and the POS legislation that is pending - including the mandates - are a friggin disaster.

[MercutioATC]

9. Other: Excessive taxes/archaic regulation

Just started a liquor brand.

Between federal liquor taxes (nearly $1.90/bottle at 70 proof) and the archaic post-prohibition three-tiered distribution system, margins are much thinner than they need to be.

I have no problem with paying taxes, but when federal liquor taxes almost equal a supplier's net profit per bottle, there's a problem. Federally mandating a middleman who marks up over 25% is the icing on the cake.

[Political Heretic]

10. Yes, you guys are getting screwed.

We can all get together on the arcane and insane liquor laws and taxes.... hopefully :)

[ixion]

12. yeah, small businesses are at an extreme disadvantage

in that regard. Larger corps seem to be able to make billions and pay next-to-nothing. Things have been so lean lately that I had to use a bit of my business credit line to cover my quarterly taxes this year. :grr:

[Change Happens]

13. 3 things:

1) Health care
2) Health care
3) Health care

[JustAnotherGen]

14. Health Care

Seems to be a critical point for us . . .

[Toots]

15. Workman's Comp

It takes a Huge bite every year and if we had National Health Care it would not be necessary..