The document summarizes the top 10 problems and priorities for small businesses according to a survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB). Taxes were identified as the number one issue, with businesses struggling with federal taxes, tax complexity, and frequent changes in tax laws. Regulations was the second biggest issue, highlighting concerns over changes in tax laws and government regulations. Employees ranked third, with the high cost of health insurance and finding skilled workers as major problems.

1. Helping Businesses Grow & Succeed
What Keeps Business Owners Up at Night?

2. Helping Businesses Grow & Succeed
Top 10 Problems & Priorities
We reviewed the NFIB’s (National Federation of Independent
Businesses) “Problems and Priorities 2016.” Out of 75 issues
of concern to Small Businesses, they were able to cluster
them into these 10 categories. Here is the count down to
number 1.

3. Helping Businesses Grow & Succeed
10 – Public Service and Responsibility
While last on the ranking, it is not a problem to ignore. This
cluster’s issues include licensure, information on regulatory
changes, crime and protecting intellectual property.

4. Helping Businesses Grow & Succeed
9 – Technology
Topping this cluster is the cost of telecommunications,
closely followed by credit card payment processing costs.
Cyber Crime is #51 on the over all list, but ranks #23 on the
list in the Financial Services sector.

5. Helping Businesses Grow & Succeed
8 – Competitors/ Markets
Competition for products or services had to make the list.
This cluster includes issues that you see and feel regularly.
Competitive advantage between large vs small business and
keeping up with your market stand out. Surprisingly, this
cluster also includes the market for skilled employees.
Also, have you ever considered exporting to other countries
as a new market opportunity?

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7 – Finance
The basis for number 7 on this list can be summarized as
knowing where your money is going and when it’s coming in.
Poor or highly variable earnings and Cash Flow are stressful
issues that all businesses face.

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6 – Management
Managing sales forecasts, cash flow, and poor sales are
included in this cluster. There is help out there with this
cluster, finding the time to research and implement changes
is included in this category and the last. Do you feel like you
lack control of your own time? You’re not alone.

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5 – Information
Information is key to business success. It also takes time and
skill to search for the right information. Issues like this make
“Information” the 5th cluster on the list. Think about your
BLAIM team (Banker, Lawyer, Accountant, Insurance Agent,
and Mentor). Their knowledge and connections can help you
through many of these challenges.

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4 – Costs
Are you surprised this isn’t first on the list? The cost of health
insurance is connected to a few clusters, including this one.
This cluster actually includes 5 of the top 20 business issues
making the “Costs” cluster is number 4 on the overall list.
The cost of various insurances are prevalent in this cluster,
including worker’s comp and liability insurance.

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3 – Employees
This cluster shares the #1 issue since the 1980’s: the cost of
health insurance. Making it 3rd on the overall list, the
cluster also includes cost of finding and keeping skilled
employees.

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2 – Regulations
Three of the top 10 individual problems can be found in this
cluster. Highlighting changes in tax laws and rules and
government regulations. A consistent part of the issue is
paperwork misunderstandings.

12. Helping Businesses Grow & Succeed
1– Taxes
The number 1 cluster in this list is Taxes, which includes 5 of
the Top 10 ranked individual problems overall. Businesses
struggle with federal taxes, tax complexity, and the frequent
changes in tax laws and rules.

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Florida SBDC at UCF – Lake County
www.sbdcorlando.com/lakecounty
407.404.7338
Graphic created by: Theresa Davis, Program Coordinator, FSBDC at UCF – Lake County
Information cited from: NFIB’s Problems and Priorities report 2016.
Wade, H. (2016 August) Small Business Problems and Priorities. NFIB Research Foundation,
p17-21. Retrieved from: www.nfib.com/foundations/research-center/