Small business owners say health care costs is biggest issue they face: survey

Small Business Owners say that the most important issue affecting them is the cost of health care, according to the National Small Business Association’s annual Politics of Small Business Survey. 

When asked what issues they raised most with elected officials, 40 percent of the surveyed owners said health care costs. Local issues were second on the list at 28 percent and tax reform came third with 37 percent.

The survey found that small business owners are politically active, with 96 percent saying they are registered to vote, 77 percent saying they regularly vote in local elections and 93 percent saying they vote in national contests.

A July survey from Axios/SurveyMonkey showed Democrats with an edge on health care issues in the upcoming midterm elections. 

The small business owners surveyed leaned Republican in their political affiliation, 38 percent to 28 percent for Democrats, but 30 percent say they consider themselves independent or unaffiliated. 

“Small-business owners’ political positions are wildly diverse and they are not beholden to any one political party,” NSBA President Todd McCracken said of the survey. 

“Unfortunately, one thing they all agree on, regardless of party affiliation, is that policymakers don’t really understand small business,” he added. Of those surveyed, 47 percent said they do not believe Congress represents them well.

The survey was conducted online from May 9-June 11 and included 1,421 small-business owners.