The follwoing information came to us today from the American Sustainable Business Council. For a full report on the survey, see link at the end of this blog.
National poll finds 78% of small businesses say regulations needed to protect small businesses from unfair competition, level playing field with big business; 86% see regulations as necessary part of a modern economy
Small business owners say their main concern is weak customer demand, not regulations, according to independent opinion polling released today. In fact, when asked what would do the most to create jobs, small business owners’ top response was eliminating incentives to move jobs overseas. Reducing regulation came in fifth place.
Other key findings from the survey include:
- Small business owners see their top problem as weak customer demand, not regulations: 34% cited weak customer demand as the most important problem for their business, while only 14% named government regulations.
- On the question of what would do the most to create jobs, cutting regulations came in low on the list: the top response was eliminating incentives to move jobs overseas at 24%; reducing regulation was fifth at 10%.
- Small business owners see an important role for standards and safeguards: 78% believe some standards are important to protect small businesses from unfair competition, and 76% believe regulations on the books should be enforced.
- Small business owners see regulations as necessary for a modern economy: 93% agree their business can live with some regulation if it is fair, manageable and reasonable.
- Small business owners express strong support for specific rules and standards: 78% support rules to prevent health insurance companies from increasing rates excessively, 84% support food safety standards, 80% support product safety standards and 80% support disclosure and regulation of toxic materials.
- Small business owners support clean energy policies: 79% support ensuring clean air and water, and 61% support moving the country towards energy efficiency and clean energy.
- Small businesses believe in streamlining government processes: 73% of respondents believe we should allow for one-stop electronic filing of government paperwork.
For more information on these poll findings, visit: http://www.asbcouncil.org/poll_regulations.html