The Politics of Small Business Owners

A survey of Vermont agricultural and small business owners and managers was conducted to examine their retirement plans and needs for information. Results from 828 respondents indicate that 42% of them do not have any retirement plan and 45% of the surveyed businesses do not offer any retirement plan for their employees. Results also suggest that most small business owners and managers who do not have a retirement plan are not very interested in more information on retirement planning.

This study attempted to analyze needs for labor education and consulting support based on 166 survey responses collected by conducting a survey of small business owners who are direct consumers of policies, and it is meaningful in that it derived Needs and priorities for each labor management items. For each of the 10 labor management items analyzed by the study, it was confirmed that there is a significant gap between the importance perceived by small business owners and the achievement they are actually acquiring. In addition, according to the results fo deriving the priorities of education and consulting needs using Borich needs assessment and the locus for focus model, it was confirmed that education and consulting support for 'employment contract' and 'wage and severance pay' items were the most urgent. The policy implications of this study are as follows. First, labor education and consulting support for small business owners in the future should be implemented with the priority of ‘employment contract’ and “wage and severance pay” items, which are high need and have a large difference between importance and current achievement level. Second, education and consulting should focus on detailed and specific cases. In addition, it is necessary to consider using various types of online and mobile channels such as YouTube and SNS. The analysis results and implications of this study can be used as useful basic data for preparing successful labor education and consulting support plans for small business.

This paper presents the research findings of a dual-survey process designed to understand the level of potential investor trust in the Eastern European market of Bulgaria both before and after being given information on the daily working environment for small businesses. The first survey inventories several key aspects of issues facing small businesses in Bulgaria and was distributed to potential investors. They are surveyed twice, both before and after exposure to the results of an inventory of owner issues. The second survey of Bulgarian business people was used to inventory these owner issues. The current climate of transitional economies and European bailouts means uncertainty for all aspects of global business. By furthering understanding of perceptions of investors and actual Bulgarian business practices, this research attempted to ascertain if increased trust was possible and if increased trust would translate to willingness to create business partnerships. Both surveys utilized a Likert scale. The potential investors surveyed were expatriates living in Sofia, Bulgaria and small business owners in the Mid-western United States. A second survey was given to Bulgarian small business owners. This work served to identify currently held practices, issues and ideas encountered in the Bulgarian market. The initial survey of expatriates and small business owners showed a general lack of trust in, and understanding of, Bulgarian businesses, practices and their national context. After exposure to the inventoried results of the Bulgarian business environment, the surveyed individuals responded with increased levels of trust in multiple aspects of the Bulgarian Original Research Article British Journal of Economics, Management & Trade, 4(2): 197-212, 2014 198 business environment and a willingness to partner with, and invest in, these businesses.

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Purpose of the Study Where do small business owners and managers get the marketing knowledge they need to make marketing decisions? Using a marketing knowledge value chain framework, this research identifies the sources used by these marketing decision makers. Method/Design and Sample/Design An online survey of small business owners and managers ( n = 226) was conducted. Using a constant sum response format, respondents were asked to report the degree to which they used 15 different information sources, including such things as formal education, trade publications, and on-the-job training. Various demographics were included to explore differences across groups. Results On-the-job training was the most heavily weighted information source (25% weight), followed by colleagues, peers, and associates (18%). Even though 59% of the sample had taken a college-level marketing course at some point, formal education had a modest importance weight (13%). Academic journals received a very low weight (1%). Few differences in sources used were found across education level, size of organization, and revenue growth. Value to Marketing Educators Recognizing that a large percentage of marketing graduates will work for small businesses, this study highlights the need for marketing faculty to make marketing knowledge creation and dissemination more relevant to small businesses. To accomplish this goal, more academic research can be targeted toward small business challenges, and client projects, internships, and case analyses can integrate more small businesses.

This study aims to identify strategies for promoting economic-social development and territorial planning in the municipality of La Concordia, with a focus on the promotion of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in the primary and tertiary sectors and the strengthening of labor market mobility. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative interviews with key stakeholders, a survey of micro and small business owners, and a review of relevant literature. The study identified several potentialities and weaknesses associated with the micro-systems within the municipality and recommended specific strategies to support entrepreneurship and mobility in the labor market, including access to credit and financial services, development of value chains and clusters, and investment in education and training programs. The study also highlighted the importance of promoting an enabling environment that facilitates innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship, and emphasized the need for policies that balance economic growth with environmental protection. Overall, the study concludes that public policies aimed at economic-social development and territorial planning in La Concordia must be developed through a participatory and inclusive process, involving all stakeholders, and must be informed by a deep understanding of the social, economic, and environmental dynamics of the community, as well as the needs and aspirations of its members.

BACKGROUND: Employment of people with disabilities continues to be a concern in the field of rehabilitation counseling. Employment rates remain low, resulting in many people with disabilities living at or below the poverty line. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of Hispanic small business owners toward hiring people with disabilities. METHODS: The 38-item Employer Attitudes Questionnaire (EAQ) and the 33-item Small Business Owners Survey (SBOS) were used to investigate attitudes and concerns about hiring issues along with the business owners’ general feelings toward the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Survey packets were distributed in the business districts of two selected cities in southern Texas. Two hundred and seventeen participants took part in the study. RESULTS: The findings suggest that there is a range of views about the capabilities of workers from various disability categories as well as differing opinions on the cost of reasonable accommodations. The results of a regression analysis yielded three significant predictors influencing hiring decisions: whether the business owner had a family member or a friend with a disability, the business owner’s marital status, and their awareness of the ADA. CONCLUSIONS: There is a continuing need to educate small business owners about disability- and employment-rights legislation; however, cost considerations to provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities seem to be significantly more important for small business owners than for large corporations.

Governments heavily rely on tax revenue, imposing taxes on incomes, assets, and products of individuals and entities. However, tax compliance remains a global challenge due to complexities, systemic flaws, and taxpayer ignorance. In Nepal, particularly among small business owners, there is a lack of research on tax compliance intentions. This study aims to understand taxpayers' intentions regarding tax compliance, focusing on small business owners in Kathmandu Valley. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was employed to measure intentions using structured questionnaires and structural equation modeling (SEM) with SPSS and AMOS software. The study surveyed 200 small business owners, revealing that only 48.38% were aware of their tax compliance intentions. Additionally, 61.5% reported difficulties in paying taxes and criticized the government for insufficient tax awareness initiatives. Despite this, 74.74% believed that staying updated with changing government regulations could help manage tax challenges. The SEM results showed significant correlations between tax compliance intentions and factors like tax morale, tax complexity, and trust in the government. Most small businesses were registered and filed taxes annually, yet their compliance intentions were largely influenced by fear of fines. Furthermore, variables such as attitudes toward paying and avoiding taxes, belief in government, and the complexity of tax procedures also impacted compliance. The study concludes that improving tax services, enforcing more effective penalties, enhancing tax morale, and ensuring information transparency are crucial to facilitating tax compliance among small business owners in Nepal.

The enactment of the Job Creation Law affects the provisions of Limited Liability Companies. The mechanism for establishing an Individual Company which is explained implicitly in the Company Law and the Job Creation Law raises issues related to the process of organ responsibility in an Individual Company which states that directors can concurrently hold positions as shareholders and vice versa. One of the problems of the presence of Individual Companies in MSEs in Indonesia is the birth of Alter Ego conditions. The solution to limit the unlimited liability of corporate organs is that the government needs to strengthen and reinforce the doctrine of Piercing the Corporate Veil for Individual Companies and provide legal certainty regarding the regulation of corporate organs in the Company Law and Government Regulation No. 8 of 2021. This article examines the existence of individual companies in the context of micro and small businesses in Indonesia. The focus of the analysis lies on the concept of the alter ego doctrine which often becomes a problem in business practice. This research utilizes a document analysis approach and literature study to explore the legal and practical implications of the alter ego doctrine on individual companies in Indonesia. The analysis shows that the alter ego doctrine has a significant impact on the personal liability of micro and small business owners. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of business regulation and legal protection for micro and small business owners in Indonesia.

Market intelligence is critical to marketing strategy planning for any business. While considerable study has been made of the intelligence‐gathering practices of large corporations, very little research has been reported focusing on the competitive information activities of small businesses. The research involved a survey of small business owners and managers in South Carolina, USA. The study addressed three questions: What market intelligence practices do small businesses use? What market intelligence practices do they think their competitors use? How important is market intelligence to small businesses? The market intelligence practices most frequently used are observing competitors and talking with suppliers or delivery people. Small business owners were least likely to use practices such as job interviews or hiring competitors′ employees to gain information. Respondents perceived their competitors as being more likely to pursue market intelligence activities. If a firm used a specific practice, they thought their competitors did also. Among small business owners market intelligence does not appear to be a critical management concern.

This research is based on an initial survey of the distribution of subsidized 3-kg LPG which I think is not right on target because it is full of fraudulent practices. In distributing LPG, it was found that many rich people still buy subsidized 3-kg LPG. In fact, according to government regulations, 3-kg LPG is intended for the poor economic community or small business owners. The problem that is the focus of this research is how the mechanism for distributing 3-kg LPG is in Sajad Regency, and how is the law on selling 3-kg LPG for the rich when viewed according to Islamic law. To answer these questions, data collection techniques were carried out through observation and interviews. The results of this study are 1) the distribution of 3-kg LPG is not in accordance with government regulations, namely the distribution of LPG prioritizes people who can afford it above the official price, while the poor can only get a small part of the official government price/national subsidy price, so there are more stock for sale at more expensive than the official price. 2) If viewed from Islamic law, the distribution of 3-kg LPG is not in accordance with the sharia business method because it is carried out by ignoring government regulations, namely traders are considered to have broken an agreement with the government regarding price determination. In addition, this buying and selling practice also lacks supervision, no sanctions and no law enforcement to maintain subsidy prices so that many sellers dare to violate contracts with the government and violate government regulations.

In 1979/ a study was conducted to determine the status of female business owners in rural areas, and to compare the women-owned businesses with similar businesses owned by men. Respondents were deliberately selected from Chamber of Com­ merce lists of small-business owners. The invited sample in­ cluded 175 women and 144 men business owners. Fifty-six per­ cent of the invited sample responded to the mailed question­ naire. The data were analyzed by chi square tests. Significant differences between female and male small-business owners were found. Female small-business owners earned less money, started with less business capital, and had lower gross receipts than male small-business owners. Men had more years of managerial experience than women prior to business owner­ ship, yet women were older than men when they started their first business. Both men and women identified major business problems as, reducing fixed costs, following government regulations, and selecting employees. Men, however, re­ ported these problems more often than women.

Mail surveys of small business owners have notoriously low response rates, creating the potential for substantial error in surveys of this population and diminishing the credibility of research conducted on small firms. The author recently carried out an experiment as part of a larger project involving 16,000 small business owner/members of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). The experiment's purpose was to ascertain survey treatments that might enhance mail survey response among small business owners. Results showed that none of the six treatments examined improved response rates enough to warrant its routine use over the alternative, nor did any combinations of treatments help. The implication is that commonly used treatments, for example prenotification, often are unproductive.

We investigate the characteristics of the owners of small businesses that participate in the informal sector of an emerging economy and their perception of the risk of detection by tax authorities while doing so. Data are gathered from a survey covering 1027 small businesses in Trinidad and Tobago. Results suggest that small business owners are motivated to participate in the informal sector when they believe that the risk of detection by the tax authorities is low and that government regulations are burdensome, but there is no evidence that the tax rate itself is an issue. Their perception of the risk of detection by the tax authority is determined largely by the time they spend and the income they earn in the formal sector.

The disruptive development of digital technology and the rapid transition to a non-face-to-face economy caused by Corona Pandemic are accelerating the growth of online platforms. However, the market dominance of online platform companies leads to various unfair trade practices such as excessive fees, and the expansion into diverse business areas to build a platform ecosystem is considered to threaten the survival of small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners. There are voices calling for regulating the abuse of market dominance and unfair trade practices of online platform companies in Korea as well as in Europe and the United States, and strong government-led regulations are under consideration. The enactment of the Online Platform Fairness Act and the revision of the Mutually Beneficial Cooperation Act, which are currently pending in the National Assembly, reflect this trend. However, government regulations have a problem that they cannot quickly reflect the rapidly changing market conditions. Not only is it difficult to clearly define the market, which is a prerequisite for regulation, and to verify the facts and effects of unfair trade practices, but it is also difficult to ignore the fact that online platforms contribute to the improvement of transaction efficiency and consumer welfare. Even if strong legal regulations can ensure fairness in transactions between online platform companies and their users, it is questionable whether this can resolve conflicts in a desirable direction and promote the collaboration among conflicting parties. The intrinsic nature of collaboration is the pursuit of diversity and harmony. A healthy and sustainable business ecosystem can be achieved by both large companies and SMEs collaborating to develop their own capabilities and build mutual trust. To this end, this study suggests the self-governance or self-regulation for online platform companies. In particular, it is believed that platform companies, based on the principle of ‘good faith’, should seek equity and fairness in their relations with users and quickly introduce in-house dispute mediation programs for resolving conflicts. Furthermore, beyond the collaboration with users or complementors, it is believed that platform companies should develop and practice social responsibility for the interests of society at large. More specifically, the suggestions of this study are as follows. First, based on the social interdependence theory and Deutsch’s theory of competition and cooperation, this study believes that the essence of collaborative (win-win) cooperation lies in harmony or balance between heterogeneous economic actors, and in order to achieve this in a conflict situation, it is necessary to seek cooperative-constructive conflict resolution rather than competitive-destructive conflict resolution. However, it is necessary to seek harmony between competition and cooperation in that it is possible to simultaneously pursue competition and cooperation, and fair competition or restrained competition can have positive results. Second, following Gorwa (2019)’s suggestion, this study also sees the appropriate balance between the self-governance, external governance, and co-governance as a good form of platform governance. In particular, as government authorities are strongly considering legal regulations, platforms are expected to strengthen self-regulation, establish an organization performing multiple functions ranging from investigating user complaints to creating ethical frameworks, seek user participation in policy decisions, and so on. Third, if a platform company wants to practice self-regulation, it must be made in the direction of complying with the ‘principle of good faith’ as in general transactions. The principle of good faith is closely related to the duty of cooperation, the doctrine of non-degradation from grant, and the principle of unconscionability. The core concepts that make up these principles include honesty, fairness, reasonableness, exclusion of bad faith and opportunism, compliance with fiduciary duty, respect of the other party’s rational expectations, and the implementation of community standards. Fourth, it is desirable to preemptively and quickly introduce an in-house dispute mediation program to resolve conflicts. Both the enactment of the Online Platform Fairness Act and the revision of the Mutually Beneficial Cooperation Act stipulate the operation of the public dispute mediation program as a means for resolving disputes between platforms and their users. In-house dispute mediation is a ‘low risk coordinative mechanism’ compared to public dispute mediation, which contributes to improving relations between disputing parties and enhances corporate reputation and image. In addition, it is a more efficient and flexible conflict resolution method in that new measures not recognized by the parties can be sought during the mediation process. Finally, platform companies’ collaboration efforts should be made in relation to consumers and society. The concept of collaborative cooperation requires platform companies to participate in solving social and environmental problems. It is necessary to consider how to impose responsibility on the platform and its various stakeholders to realize public values such as transparency and diversity.