Over 83 percent cite importance of having “pro-business” candidates/elected officials; want Congress to address individual tax reform in 2015. A recent U.S. Senate Committee report indicated that women-owned business are a $3 trillion economic force and support 23 million jobs, but still face significant barriers compared to their male-owned counterparts when it comes to obtaining loans and growing their businesses.
With a week to go before this year’s 2014 midterm elections, a new, flash survey by the National Association of the Self-Employed (NASE), a national advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-business community, shows women entrepreneurs engaged and looking for candidates who support the small business community.
The NASE survey of the opportunities and challenges faced by women entrepreneurs was conducted online from October 15–24 and is comprised of over 150 women who own small and micro-businesses from across the country. The survey found that only 3 percent of the women surveyed indicated they would not be voting in this upcoming midterm election.
Furthermore, over 83% of those surveyed cite it is either “very important” or “somewhat important” that candidates running for office and/or elected officials have a stated “pro-business” agenda.
“Women entrepreneurs are incredibly engaged in the success of their businesses and in their communities,” said Katie Vlietstra, Vice President for Government Relations and Public Affairs for NASE. “Less than 10 percent of the women we surveyed secured any type of loan to start their business. When you have over 80 percent of these women using their own personal funds and savings to start their business, the issues and decisions at all levels of government that may impact that investment means a great deal to them. From individual tax reform to expanding access to capital, women small business owners are looking for candidates and elected officials who understand the challenges they face.”
Additional highlights of the NASE women entrepreneurs survey released today includes:
• Over 80 percent of the respondents said it was either “very important” or “somewhat important” for Congress to address individual tax reform in 2015.
• Over 80 percent of respondents used personal funds to start their business, with less than 10% securing a traditional small business loan.
• Nearly 80 percent provide some level of health care coverage to their employees (or themselves).
• Their #1 concern is finding ways to market and grow their business (58 percent), followed by the cost of health care (38 percent).
“Even with the myriad of issues facing small business owners, women entrepreneurs cite a high-level of satisfaction and happiness with starting their own business,” continued Vlietstra. “In fact, over 85 percent of those women we surveyed said they were satisfied with their life as a small business owner. We look forward to continuing our advocacy on behalf of women and their business to grow and support this $3 trillion economic force.”
Vlietstra recently penned in Huffington Post that Congress should immediately address health care, women’s entrepreneurship and tax reform for the small business community. Self-employed women and women-owned small businesses continue to be a growing force in our country’s economy. A recent U.S. Senate Committee report indicated that “women-owned business are a $3 trillion economic force and support 23 million jobs, but still face significant barriers compared to their male-owned counterparts when it comes to obtaining loans and growing their businesses.” NASE has committed to helping give women entrepreneurs the tools they need to start, save and grow their small businesses.
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is the nation’s leading resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, bringing a broad range of benefits to help entrepreneurs succeed and to drive the continued growth of this vital segment of the American economy. The NASE Small Business Locator helps identify and connect our nation’s smallest businesses. The NASE is a 501(c) (6) nonprofit organization and provides big-business advantages to hundreds of thousands of micro-businesses across the United States. For more information, visit the association’s website at NASE.org
