06/15/2004
The Problems and Priorities series has been published approximately every four years since its inception in 1982. This sixth edition, like its predecessors, reports on the most pressing issues facing small-business owners, as reported by small-business owners themselves.
As reported in this current edition, the 10 most severe problems for small-business owners in order are:
- Cost of health insurance
- Cost and availability of liability insurance
- Workers' compensation
- Cost of natural gas, propane, gasoline, diesel, fuel oil
- Federal taxes on business income
- Property taxes (real, personal, or inventory)
- Cash flow
- State taxes on business income
- Unreasonable government regulations
- Electricity costs (rates)
Health insurance costs were a "critical" issue for 65.6 percent of respondents, the highest percentage for any problem in the survey's 22-year history.
Use the link below to read the full report.
