Comments on: Small Biz State of the Union

By: Marcos Vielma San Jose, Ca.

Marcos Vielma San Jose, Ca. — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:04:38 +0000

I think we all agree that the only way to curtail high unemployment and jump start the econemy is for Washington to focus on Small business investment ASAP!!The money invested on uneployment extension benifits is not going to create jobs. The investment should be made to the employers that can create jobs and get the people back to work. Invest in America (Small Buisnes)Make the money availble to the business in a simple way so they can have access to the money. The SBA system does not work, based on the results from the large number of people that have tried that route with no results. "As long as small business contiune to strugle so will the economy,millions of families and the country." We are not asking for a handout,just a little help an the oppertunity to do our share of rebuilding the America we Love dearly.
SOS!!! HELP!!!We can do it!! Wake up Washington!!!OBAMA WHAT ABOUT US YOUR BREAD AND BUTTER!!!Ready to serve Support the small business owners.

By: Stephen Kay Madisonville Tx

Stephen Kay Madisonville Tx — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:26:44 +0000

Well don;t know about the rest of you I,ve try almost every bank and SBA for the ark loan and so far all i get is the run round.Had one Banker tell me that the way they doing the loans now not to sure i could get one.the way it looking now I;ll have to close and go back to work for someone else.The bad part is I;m so small they say I;m a realy risk

By: JoyMarie Goodman-Morristown TN

JoyMarie Goodman-Morristown TN — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:06:38 +0000

SBA is a joke, i applied seven months ago for $25000 and was told i could get $5000 which i stilol have not gotten because Zarnacow (the head of SBA) put an arbituary hold on each financial industry of no more than 100 loans given a month. The one i am dealing with has 700 to get out. One place, a big company given a grant to loan to small businesses told me to call a bank that he did not have to give out the grant money, no one was checking up on it and he was not giving it out. We small businesses need to unite, form a independent union of our own and loan each other money, Contact me if you are interested at joymariegoodman@netscape.com

By: alex vitti

alex vitti — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:20:30 +0000

it have been a bit easy with the loans-credits,but not its more and more difficult to get one
try http://www.capitallynk.com I guess, they can help

By: j. Orlando, Fl

j. Orlando, Fl — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:22:21 +0000

I own a medium small business auto repair shop…nowhere to turn for a loan Orlando Florida is in a terrible recession. My customers cannot afford to fix their cars..although there is no shortage of work they have no cash or credit. I know a 35K would get me through this…I am about ready to throw in the towel. No help for small business and the SBA is a joke.

By: Cary G. Calhoun,Ga.

Cary G. Calhoun,Ga. — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:20:38 +0000

Amen, Brother!

By: CMC North Carolina

CMC North Carolina — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:35:57 +0000

If the banks wont… why can't SBA work directly with us? Most community colleges have a SBA office… we could go to someone there? It's time to let banks know they dont run the country anymore.

By: joel, yakima washington

joel, yakima washington — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:40:59 +0000

i've been open for 2 years now and have 6 employees, and i don't know if it was the timeing that i opend this business, just when times are getting bad, but i've only been making enough to pay my employees and keep all the bills up to date. Now that the min-wage whent up to 8.55 its hard to do even that. I've wanted to expand or put some money in to see if a little of it would be left over for my personal bills, but have not been able to afford any additional projects. I've gone to the banks but because the firt year i lost so much money and this last year i made just a bit i'm not able to get any loans. the only thing is to cut employee hours but things get hard when i'm short handed. what can i do?

By: Arleen, Pinedale, Wyoming

Arleen, Pinedale, Wyoming — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:54:01 +0000

The banks are still not willing to help small business. I live in Wyoming and most of the banks here are not interested in learning how to do SBA loans. We have little or no resources here and the SBA is semi-willing to help. Our company is ready to go to the next stage and build a new facility and hire new employees but we can't get help.

By: Michael Hathaway. 202 e 3rd st. Beaumont Ca.

Michael Hathaway. 202 e 3rd st. Beaumont Ca. — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:56:38 +0000

It's amazing to me that the very organizations that got us to where we are today are the very same mogals that we are looking to bail we the people out. I have been self employed as a contractor for over 25 years. Have been successful in taking a company from 50K to over 4 mil. per year. Based on government budgets, propostions and bond measures for so called infrastructure and roads. They take oer 25 cents per gallon that is suppose to be used specifically for roads and we're all driving around on crap. We make major investment, put our personal holdings and families at stake so they can do what? Con us into believing that we are living the American dream but in reality it is worse than communism. At least the Communist Government tells you up front that what is yours is thiers. At the end of the day you are taxed into having to take on more debt and if you try to save money for times like now, that is profit and that must be taxed at hire rates. So you re-invest back into your companies hoping that there will be a better pay off and instead you find yourself loosing everything you worked so hard for because the market fell & they tax you to death. Taxation is the #1 trigger that puts business owners into having to borrow to keep a float. Edd, Eft, Income, Buisness property, DMV, attorney fees to keep them off your freakin back, roads that are falling apart and adding extra wear and tear on your vehicles because they take the monies that were origionaly suppose to be used to maintain roads and bridges and use it to fund thier big beautiful government offices why you have to do busness out of your home or a job trailer, sales taxes,
property tax and last but not least, death tax. After you get to the end of your life they want to rob your children of thier inharetence. Final words of advice for small bus peeps. Don't rely on this government to bail the majority of you out, do what you have always done, rely on yourself and lesson your tax exposure as much as possible. Keep cutting back, budget-budget and budget and make this determination of what you really believe every day. Is your fear of getting up off the mat stronger than the absolute determination its going to take to take this big giant out and be successful at what you do. You like me are more than likely a fighter and want to knock the hell out of this 5oo Lb. gorrella so count your nickles, pay as you play and avoid credit at all cost and cash your register out every day. Believe in you and God and rely on no man because no man loves you more than you do or God. Most people just want to know what they can get out of you. Hang tough and know that there is light at the end of the tunnel for those who perservier and do thier home work!
Be Blessed.

By: L. Logan, Dallas, TX

L. Logan, Dallas, TX — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:33:05 +0000

I agree with Sachin from Miami Florida….we need to have a voice for the small businesses. There's a group called Small Business Coalition (check their website) however, in looking at their site….they are not voicing our concerns. We the people of these small business need to come together and SPEAK OUT!!! Everyone say’s that the economy growth is due to the small businesses so why are we so high on saving the big companies? All the bailout money that has gone into their accts…..and what do they have to show for? Nothing….they are asking for even more money!!!! If that money had been spent on the small business…….the economy would be blooming by now! We can make things happen! We will create jobs….we will rise above and continue with the American Dream. We are united by one common goal…and that is to keep our dreams alive…and what better way than to come together and fight for what's ours. Our voices need to be heard just like the big banking/financial/auto instutions were heard.

Everyone should Contact: Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., the chairwoman of the House Committee on Small Business who said: "America's small businesses have led our nation out of previous economic downturns and, given the right tools, they can do so again."

Also, Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Chair Mary Landrieu, D-La., Her committee's priorities include increasing funding to the SBA, strengthening the SBA's disaster loan program, and pushing Obama to elevate the SBA's administrator to a Cabinet-level position, which was reported by CNN Money.

Perhaps they will be our voices on Capitol and the Whitehouse.

By: sachin miami florida

sachin miami florida — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:42:56 +0000

Small businesses such as ours need to form a coalition so our voices can be heard in Washington. We are after all, as a group, larger than Aig or GM and as a group too large too fail. We need to develop a group with a singular voice to approach President Obama not to neglect us. Any thoughts on how we can form this group of collective voices will be much appreciated.

By: Libby Logan, Dallas, TX

Libby Logan, Dallas, TX — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:45:50 +0000

About 2 yrs ago we bought a small bistro cafe in the Dallas area. This was an existing cafe. We fell in love with the concept. Both my husband and I are professionals. We've both worked in fortune 100 companies through our careers. When we bought the restaurant we thought, like many people, that this could be the beginning of a big and profitable venture. However as time went on we realize the people we bought the cafe from had painted a pretty picture for us. They did not disclose the true operating numbers of the cafe. Needless to say we found ourselves hurting for money. We applied to SBA…we were given a loan for 50K. However, that money has been used up. We didn't realize the little cafe would cost so much to keep it going. Now we find ourselves like everyone else, working just to make ends meet and pulling money from our credit cards. We don’t want to loose the restaurant nor do we want the employees out of a job. I am focusing on growing the catering business. We are a minority and HUB certified business. Trying to survive in these horrible economic times has been very stressful. Especially since the banks don't want to lend money. How can we stay in business and weather the storm if the banks are not lending? The banks are requiring so much information and they have tight guidelines for lending money but what guidelines and information is the government requiring from the banks. My husband and I have worked our butts off throughout our careers. We are honest hard working people like many other Americans’ here. We don't deserve to pay for the mistakes of those greedy Wallstreet people. In our professional careers both my husband and I were compensated with an annual bonus based on the overall performance of the company…..so can you tell me why these Wallstreet bastards are getting bonuses when they brought the financial/banking system down? I've heard it's to retain talent…..that same talent got us in this mess so if you ask me they should be put in jail or at least they should give every penny back to all those individual they took money from. Including their multi-million dollar homes they have all over the world. We, the people have trusted them for many years…..and now people are suffering…..it's a shame that our government let's them get away with murder!!!! We are getting so desperate for working capital to keep the business going. We are trying to be optimistic that the right programs will come along ASAP to help us all small business owners get back on our feet.

By: Roy Bartlette,Shelbyville, Tn.

Roy Bartlette,Shelbyville, Tn. — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:41:18 +0000

I am retired and these so called CEO's are stealing our companies and our pensions. I think they should be punished for their tactics. I also believe that every person should be dismissed if he or she take a bribe. And especially avoid their taxes. The average person would be put in jail.
This is what they should to all those theiving bankers and stock brokers. This would include Judges.

By: Jim Franceus, CFP

Jim Franceus, CFP — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:08:09 +0000

I really don't see a lot of direct help for small business in this "stimulus" package. There will be some indirect benefit when people have more money to spend, but most of that comes from handouts. Businesses in Oregon are going to penalized from whatever benefit they would have had from the federal stimulus plan, because of a bill in the process of passing the democrat controlled legislature and governor as follows:
• Disconnect Oregon from the federal tax code and deny Oregonians and Oregon companies the benefits of a federal stimulus package if it is passed by the U.S. Congress;
• Eliminate incentives included in the federal stimulus package to encourage businesses to purchase machinery, equipment, software and other items for sustaining manufacturing and production operations;
• Negatively impact Oregon’s business community and their ability to sustain or create jobs;
• Increase taxes on Oregonians receiving unemployment benefits; and
• Result in nearly $100 million in increased taxes on Oregonians and Oregon businesses.
Our state wants money for its coffers, but will take back whatever benefit the feds give business as far as state income taxes are concerned. What's wrong with this picture?

By: John Hickman (Gameplexx), Richmond Va

John Hickman (Gameplexx), Richmond Va — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:15:12 +0000

It perplexes me that the people in Washington has overlooked things for years on Wall Street and is now overlooking the millions of small businesses in America. More capital infusion into the banks are not fixing the problem, its compounding the problem. My story is no different than the countless other businees owners in this forum. The SBA lender who has my loan refuses to subordinate/release my collateral where I can't tap into the equity into my home. Congress needs to step in and say to these banks that they can't cause hardship to those business owners who are not insolvent. This mess we have gotten ourselves into is ruining families, just look at family suicides that have occurred in the last couple of weeks, businesses, just look at this forum and the millions of small businesses that need help right now. Yet all you hear from our politicians is just wait things are going to clear up. Well things are not getting better. How long do we have to wait, look at what happened to the Katrina victims when they had to wait. If something doesn't start to happen soon, we fill find ourself back in the depression of 1929. Bank bailouts are definitely not the answer because they are only looking out for their best interest. God nor our own Government can help us they rather spend 10 billion dollars in IRAQ rather than help the folks in their own back yard.

By: Linda Williams, Dyer, NV

Linda Williams, Dyer, NV — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:03:00 +0000

Small Businesses have to pay county, state and federal taxes, health insurances, liability insurance, employment premiums, work compt premiums at the same rate and limits that larger corporations do. Whether we employ one or many, there is no difference. As small businesses, the guidelines need to be geared for small businesses and not lump us all together, big and small, making it almost impossible to pay all the fees required to own a small business. We do not compete in the same marketing areas yet we are expected to uphold the same regulations of a large coopany. In the 30 years of owning my business, the requirements have become more in line with larger corporations but with out the percs and benefits. When will the government fleecing of small businesses stop? When can we get Capitol Hill "tarps"-"bailouts" and "stimulus packages" to put the average citizen back to work in one of many thousand truly "small American businesses" that kept this nation #1. When will the administration see that we are not like the corporate scammers who have preyed on the old and weak but we are the backbone of the work force who by knowing and living next to their neighbor wouldn't think of scamming them but would open their homes to feed and shelter them. We are the ones who need the bailout. And Soon. Thank you.

By: Tom,Farmington Hills,Mi

Tom,Farmington Hills,Mi — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:19:43 +0000

economic conditions over the last 3-4 years have caused many construction contractors to lose the ability to secure construction bonding therefore new federally sponsored construction projects intending to put $$$$ into economy and create much needed jobs will be severely hampered unless the bonding statute(Miller Act) is relaxed or other measures are taken to be able to secure bonding at reasonable prices.

By: Brian Javeline, Pompano Beach, FL

Brian Javeline, Pompano Beach, FL — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:58:40 +0000

The government should CONTINUE to let the entreprenurial firms introduce ideas AND RESPOND in some fashion. Currently Obama is open on getting ideas but it is hard to know who is listening when there are no replies.

Example: Many contractors are unaware of the opportunities that are available through agencies such as HUD, GSA and the Military that are engaged in the hiring of contractors for the upkeep of facilities. The government is set to grant billions on community development projects. Nearly everyone calling for more government spending is also calling for better accountability of where this money goes. These goals are impossible to achieve while the agencies deploying work are vastly inefficient. Further, the vast majority of recipients of government agency contracts operate their business with limited use of technology. MyOnlineToolbox.com can assist these agencies by providing one simple solution for connecting to thousands or tens of thousands of contractors. I have not be able to reach one official who will listen, but the tons of paper via the fax machine keep flowing. How can we pitch ideas to executives who are not open minded like the business sector is?

By: Allen, Wiggins Ms

Allen, Wiggins Ms — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:58 +0000

Busch spent money we didnt have and now Obama is going to spend even more money that we dont have. And you wonder Why Americans do it with their busineses. Dont learn from that example. Just learn from the mistake that it is. Dont look for some one else to bail you out. Bail yourself out and dont depend on any one else to take care of you. Earn what you get and get what you earn. That's what I was always taught and it made sence to me.