In a survey of 500 small business owners, 86% of respondents said they view regulations as a necessity to level the playing field with big firms.
According to the survey released by small business groups American Sustainable Business Council, Main Street Alliance and Small Business Majority, 34% of the respondents said weak customer demand was the most important issue to them. Fourteen percent cited government regulations.
When asked what would do the most to create jobs, 10% said reducing regulations would help while 24% suggested eliminating incentives to move jobs overseas. Ninety-three percent said they can live with some regulation if it is "fair, manageable and reasonable."
Still, 73% of respondents believe there should one-stop electronic filing of government paperwork in an effort to streamline.
"Despite the heated rhetoric, regulations simply aren't small businesses' top concern," said John Arensmeyer, founder and CEO of Small Business Majority. "Small businesses can be the jobs engine we need to jumpstart the economy, but not if legislators are focusing on something that isn't their top problem. Policymakers should listen to what real small businesses are saying and act accordingly."
The survey was conducted between Dec. 8, 2011, and Jan. 4, 2012.
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