The U.S. Chamber’s Bill of Rights helps small businesses in America communicate their views to elected officials about what they need to create an environment to thrive.
Small businesses have faced a challenging set of cards in a period marked by shutdowns, labor shortages, and other difficulties. Axios reported recently that small businesses are struggling to navigate uncertain waters as prices rise and labor and supply shortages are likely to continue.
According to the U.S. Chamber Small Business Index, 85 percent of small businesses expressed concern about rising inflation in the most recent MetLife and U.S. Chamber Small Business Index. Fifty-one percent of small businesses believe that it will take at least six more months before the average business climate.
There have been many applications to start new business ventures despite the difficulties. Entrepreneurship has seen unprecedented growth in the past two years. This has led to the highest number of new business applications ever recorded.
The U.S. Chamber has unveiled five principles in its Small Business Bill of Rights, which calls on elected leaders to ensure that small businesses can thrive despite uncertainty and challenges.
Lori Tapani, co-owner and president of Wyoming Machine, Stacy, Minnesota, says, “It’s difficult to put into words the meaning of being a small business owner.” The Bill of Rights asks elected leaders to create an environment that allows founders and small-business owners to have the freedom they desire.
- Manage and hire employees
- Set the terms under which they will do business
- Protect yourself from frivolous lawsuits
- Profit from their business and help to direct its future
- Do not be bound by excessive regulations
- My Business is Hurt by Lack of Clarity
The first principle requires that the government not overburden a small business’s ability to create its employment policies or interfere with its ability to compete for talent. This includes using part-time workers and independent contractors.
Ronnie Slone is the President of The Slone Group, New Orleans, Louisiana. He says that as a consultant, he must use independent contractors to accommodate a constantly changing mix of clients and work scopes.
Slone states, “Building a company by using other trusted advisors provides the flexibility of services to my clients.” My business is hurt by the inconsistency between federal and state law regarding what constitutes an employee and what constitutes an independent contractor.
“Wage Requirements Act is a deterrent.”
Creature Comforts Veterinary Resort & Suites in Inman (South Carolina) – The second principle of the Bill of Rights – that small businesses set the terms under which they conduct business – is crucial.
The Bill of Rights says that small business owners should be able to manage their daily business operations, including setting terms of service and entering into agreements, without the need for government intervention.
Craig Lambert, President at Creature Comforts, says that minimum wage requirements are a clear example of unnecessary government intervention in daily operations.
The federal government can set a minimum wage rate. This acts as a deterrent for both the employer and the employee. Lambert says a national minimum wage restricts my discussions with job applicants as a small-business owner.”
Lambert also stated that “higher wage requirements, without acknowledging qualifications or talent required for specific jobs,” can lead to arbitrary price increases for consumers to meet increased wage demands.
“We Have So Many Stories”
According to the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), America has one of the most expensive legal systems globally. 79% of American voters consider frivolous lawsuits a problem.
Small business owners can be devastated by frivolous, unneeded, and expensive lawsuits. The Bill of Rights clearly states that small businesses have the right to continue to operate without fear of profit-based litigation using the threat of lawsuits to extort money.
Heleena Sideris is the co-owner of Park City Lodging. She manages property and rents out vacation rentals in Park City, Utah.
“A property owner left our management swimming pool, and his water heater failed months later. He sued us.” Sideris states that another person tried to buy a property within a complex we manage and sue us because his lender refused to approve a loan.
ILR recently reported that small businesses face increasing risks of being sued under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This is because they struggle to overcome inflation, supply chain, and labor shortages.
Law firms are looking for ways to exploit the ADA and targeting small businesses with excessive ADA suits. These lawsuits are designed to force small businesses into settlements worth millions of dollars, not improve accessibility as the law intended.
According to Courthouse News, one restaurant in San Francisco, Hon’s Wun-Tun House, was sued in March 2024 because their dining tables were not wheelchair-accessible, even though they only offered takeout and were closed for sit-down service.
“The Regulations don’t make sense.”
According to the fourth Bill of Rights principle, small business owners should be able to enjoy the returns on their businesses and have the freedom to decide the future of their business. This includes the possibility of selling it or leaving it to someone else.
Regulators often prevent small businesses from following the business path that they desire.
“We want to start an employee-owned company, but financial draw regulations don’t make sense.” Sideris from Park City Lodging said that too many obstacles to achieving this goal.
The U.S. Chamber urges elected officials to use the Small Business Bill of Rights and the voices of America’s small business owners to ensure that entrepreneurs, founders, and owners of small businesses operate in an environment that empowers them to make business decisions.
