As we enter the last leg of the presidential campaigns, a lot of voters are still asking, “Where’s the beef?”  After three presidential debates – in which Big Bird seemed to generate more attention than talk about serious economic recovery – the candidates have yet to offer much reassurance to the small business community, and the saturated rhetoric from the trail has not quelled business owners’ concerns.

That is unfortunate.  Americans need definitive answers, backed up by action once in office, of how each side plans to get the US back on a path of recovery.  Some of the biggest problems derailing our nation from recovery are economic and political uncertainty created by failed policies in Washington and gridlock that prevents any real solutions.

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(Source: Florida Voices, 11/4/12, “Excessive Regulation Hurts Florida’s Small Businesses,” by Bill Herrle)

There’s been a lot of finger pointing about who’s to blame for why the country continues to experience dismal economic growth. Last week’s jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offered a bit of good news at long last, but a bit of good news is a lot less than we need to create long-term recovery.

The National Federation of Independent Business’ monthly Small Business Optimism Index for September was also released this week, indicating another month of low expectations and pessimism for the small-business community. Small-business owners are reporting that the political climate is a major reason not to expand — second only to the economy. Business owners are in maintenance mode, spending only where necessary and not hiring, expanding or ordering more inventories until the future becomes more certain, making this election critical for small businesses.

On Monday, we recognized National Citizenship Day, to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. It also recognizes all who have become U.S. citizens. In conjunction with this holiday, we must tout the unique freedoms that allow us to grow and thrive.

Our small-business community supplies 85 percent of Florida’s workforce and builds on American principles with hard work and sacrifice. Small-business owners have felt severe heartburn in regards to overreaching federal regulations.

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(Source: Tallahassee Democrat, 9/18/12, “Business and freedom go hand-in-hand,” LTE by FL Director Bill Herrle)

According to the federal Small Business Administration, the cost of complying with regulations for the typical small business is $10,500 per year, per employee. A firm with 10 workers, for example, must pay more than $100,000 every year just to remain on the right side of the rules imposed by Washington. Continue reading →

President Obama must address the burden of federal over-regulation. If the current administration does not comment on this issue, it will lose the support of small-business voters in our state and nationwide.

These regulations are stifling Florida’s small-business community. I am the owner of Restaurant Equipment World in Orlando, and I have experienced an exponential increase in regulations over the past few years. Compliance has become a major part of my day-to-day work when my time should be focused on running my business.

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(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 8/9/12, “Some regulations OK but this is overkill,” LTE by coalition member Jerry Pierce)