NASE Small Business Research
The NASE understands the importance of collecting data on our nation’s self-employed community. These national surveys uncovered the micro-business perspective on the most pressing issues facing the smallest entrepreneurs.
2012: Micro-Businesses Unsure Whether They Will Provide Employee Coverage Under The Affordable Care Act
The self-employed and micro-businesses (10 or fewer employees) continue to struggle with finding, affording and managing their health care. Over 1,900 micro-business owners sounded off on their concerns about the new health care law – the Affordable Care Act – set to go into full effect in 2014. One in four respondents believe that the cost of health coverage will go up under the law. Unlike most Americans, the more business owners know about the law, the less likely they are to support it.
2009: Micro-Business Perspectives on Health Reform
For millions of Americans who run their own business, health coverage is one of the most pressing issues they face. Over 1,800 micro-business owners weighed in on this online survey to give their opinion on the health reform recommendations being discussed by our nation’s policymakers. Close to 60% of survey respondents believe that the primary focus of reform must be cost containment. Survey results highlight the micro-business perspective on mandating coverage, the inclusion of a “public”, government-run health plan option, and the tax treatment of health insurance.
2008: Housing and Economic Survey: A Micro-Business Perspective
Many of the nation’s small business owners own “toxic” mortgages and are at risk of defaulting on their loans. The "toxic" mortgages that were marketed to prime or near-prime borrowers include Alt-A, Alt-A ARMs, Option ARMs and Interest-Only. With the majority of the nation’s small businesses being run from a home office, this alarming evidence has significant implications for business owners facing foreclosure who may be forced to shut down for good.
2008: The Nation’s Smallest Businesses Battling High Health Care Costs
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) today released data from the only national survey to measure the impact of rising healthcare costs on micro-businesses and the self-employed. The survey of nearly 4,000 micro-businesses shows that high cost continues to be the most significant barrier to offering health insurance and that small businesses strongly feel they are at a disadvantage compared to their larger counterparts when it comes to access to coverage.
2008: The Micro-Business Perspective on the Current Economy
Small firms are hit the hardest when energy costs are on the rise. Therefore, with gas prices steadily rising and a recession impending, how is the current economy affecting micro-businesses? Over 74% of small-business owners are very concerned about the current problems facing our nation's economy and over 76% believe that the economic downturn is negatively impacting their business. When these small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms and employ about half of all private sector employees, it is very alarming when their businesses are being negatively impacted. Read about all of their concerns in the PDF below.
2008: Business Tax Questions Leave Micro-Businesses Searching For Answers From IRS
Sixty-one percent of micro-businesses seek sources other than the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax advice and assistance. That’s about three out of every five micro-business taxpayers. “The IRS has a multitude of information on their Web site; it’s where the NASE turns to find out the latest and most-up-to-date tax information before passing it on to our members,” said Keith Hall, national tax advisor for the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE). “It’s possible that business owners are simply not aware of the countless fact sheets, articles and other resources specifically available to the self-employed community.”
2007: Micro-Businesses Getting Buried Under Retirement Costs 008: Business Tax Questions Leave Micro-Businesses
This survey shows that a large majority of owners and employees of America’s micro-businesses do not have access to retirement plans and are financially unprepared for retirement. “These findings show us that this segment of America’s business community – which represents about 20 million businesses – is contributing mightily to the economy, but not to the future of its own people,” said Kristie Darien, executive director for the legislative office of the NASE.
2005: Survey Reveals Impact of Rising Health Care Costs for Micro-Businesses
According to this study, rising healthcare costs are increasingly a burden for the smallest segment of the U.S. business population. “This survey shows just how serious the problem is for micro-business owners and their employees, the lengths they must go to acquire coverage, and how great the need for realistic solutions to the growing health care crisis,” says NASE President Robert Hughes.
2002: Health Care Study
According to this NASE study, health care reform is at the top of the list of pressing issues micro-business owners would like the federal government to focus on in the months ahead.