The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)/California today released its quadrennial California Problems and Priorities Survey in conjunction with the NFIB national Problems and Priorities Survey, according to which small business owners list the cost of health insurance, government regulations, and high federal taxes as their top three concerns.
“Many Americans are frustrated by the federal government’s failure to solve problems. Small business owners are frustrated by the problems that the federal government creates,” saidNFIB President and CEO Juanita Duggan. “All of the top problems for small businesses relate directly to excessive federal regulation and taxation.”
The NFIB survey asks small business owners to weigh 75 issues on a scale of 1 (a critical problem) to 7 (not a problem). Then it ranks the issues from top to bottom by their average score. According to the data, 52 percent of small business owners rank the “cost of health insurance” as a critical problem. That figure is virtually unchanged from four years ago.
NFIB California State Executive Director Tom Scott added, “Compared to the national trend, California paints an even uglier picture for small businesses. Three problems California small business owners rank much higher than those in other areas of the United States arefamily/sick leave mandates; minimum wage laws; and hiring/firing employment regulations.
“This survey of our membership unfortunately reflects what we already know about the small business climate here in California. High taxes, complex regulations, and onerous mandates make this state one of the most hostile for small business owners to start a business and create good-paying jobs for Californians,” Scott added.
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