Should Small Businesses

Many small business fear expansion right now, they fear hiring additional employees, and they are completely worried about the future. Should they be? We know that community banks are worried and there are not a lot of small business loans going on right now. Indeed, as a former franchisor before retirement it is my contention that I wouldn't pour money into a small business right now, much less touch it with a ten-foot pole. Let me explain; Why would you want to start a business where you had to hire people with all the new Obama administration rules, and this latest AFO-CIO appointment to the Department of Labor is scary too, it's going to be really tough on small businesses. Not long ago, I was explaining all this to an acquaintance who was buying an existing business and considering the hiring of a employees to help her in her business and she asked me; "tell me more. My guess is that I would have a couple part-time women." So should my acquaintance start her business and hire two part-time employees? Don't know, no one knows what was in that darn Health Care bill, small business doesn't know, information flow sucks, the Administration hasn't said, it's all vague and NO Small Business Person in their right mind would risk going into business right now knowing they'd hire employees. The President got on TV and made some vague inane speech about how this would help small businesses? No details, none forthcoming, terrible communication job. Terrible - and quite frankly it's completely and absolutely un-acceptable. This group of leaders doesn't know what the heck they are doing. We need a better team, and some common sense behind it. These people have never had to make a payroll in their lives, it ought to be a pre-requisite for public office, how on Earth can anyone believe they can run things without working knowledge of the realities of running a business? Now then, I was reading in some trade journals in various industries all the phase-ins for health care insurance law compliance, it's a mess. Worse, it's going to be an absolute hardship on small business, and medical costs are still rising, and rising, and rising. Over the last decade these costs have outpaced inflation by 10:1 and they just keep going? Hard to say what fuel they are using but we need that for the Space Shuttle - seriously folks, this is a disaster for the business community, and it isn't going to help anyone, only raise costs. blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency blackcatagency And people wonder why jobs are not returning? 75% - plus of our jobs are through small business in America, but the politicians are too busy coddling lobbyists of large corporations to even worry about it. It's all a show, it's all BS, and until things change, I'd be leery of the unknown or future business risk taking. So, you asked me to tell you more? There you have it. Am I the only person in this whole country that gets it? What the hell are they doing? The Small Business Administration director hasn't a clue. My god, this dog and pony show never stops, WTH is going on. And the media hasn't helped, what small businesses are supposed to go pay an attorney and accountant to tell them the new law changes? Sure, pay the professional parasites to tell you about the "new rules" I mean, do these legislators (all lawyers) even hear themselves think? And as the economy expands and gets back to normal, which jobs come back first? Legal jobs of course, what a totally screwed up system. So, the business people have to pay lawyers, accountants just to prepare for the law changes, scared out of their wits they might make a mistake and the big bad government is going to fine them, jail them, put them out of business? How do I know this is how it goes? Because I set up 187 franchises serving some 450 cities, I know exactly how small business works and how business people think. Meanwhile, we have a perceived "small business hater" president who never explained the comments about his "joe the plumber" gaf, and although it was blown out of proportion. That indeed, was a definite psychological hit to small business, one we still haven't gotten over and we must to insure small business confidence, if we truly want those jobs - I am beginning to think they don't by the actions of the Obama Administration, but don't doesn't understand and Obama's PR team there is unfortunately too "unwise" to understand, so they laugh it off, and ramrod some BS health care legislation with a 2800 page health care bill, and then Pelosi is on prime time TV and says; "Well, you'll just have to vote for it to see what's in the bill." You have to be kidding me? Why should small businesses have to contact a lawyer to explain the health care rules? And may I ask with what money are they supposed to pay the $2,000 bill to set it up properly so they don't get fined? Small businesses have been battling this recession for 35-months now, they are barely hanging on. If you own a small business and "Need the Money" well, get in line, every small business does and there is nowhere to borrow it. No one, me included, or any bank would be foolish enough to take the risk to lend money now. And no one knows what this Administration or Congress is going to do next? They are unpredictable, perceived unstoppable and willing to shove any 4,000 page bill down America's throats. And don't you dare argue with me, next could be Cap and Trade, and energy costs will skyrocket and you'll be stuck in a business watching your energy costs go up 45%! How about that? Then you can expect shortages and mandatory "Energy Ultra Efficient" equipment which will be required, above your already efficient units, air-conditioning system, solar panels, computers, along with new lighting, above and beyond what you have. If you don't you will be fined or shut down. If you cannot or do not want the presence of an attorney one will be appointed, if you want to stay in business the SBA will give you loans, GREAT borrow more money, as they destroy your business, go into more debt, is their answer, interesting, that's the problem in the first place, the government is broke, now they want all the businesses to be as broke as they are and pay for all their mistakes in higher costs, taxes, fines, and fees. Enough already! And if you think I am blowing smoke, it could easily happen in the next six to 18-months, and I wouldn't put anything past this Administration or Congress, they are absolutely out of control. Do you think that if your energy costs tripled in your business you could keep your prices at the current level? Of course not, and if you double your prices, 30% of your customers will not come back, and the others will come less often, easily taking at hit of 40-50% in revenues? Well, think it can't happen?