A small business is an independent business with less than 500 employees. There are over 30 million small businesses in this country. Small businesses comprise 99.9% of all firms. Small business employs 47.5% of all private sector employees or approximately 60,000,000 people and account for 40.8% of private-sector payroll. Small business is primary engine for job creation. Of the jobs created between 2000 and 2017, small business created 8.4 million new jobs, while large business created approximately half that man. But, more importantly, minority owned small business account for 30% of firms … 12% Hispanic, 10% Black/African American, 7% Asian owned, and 1% Native American and Alaskan Natives, with .2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander owned. There are over 10,000,000 female owned firms. Small business is an important engine of equality and narrowing income and wealth inequality.
Why, then, was small business at such a political disadvantage over the last few weeks? Lack of political organization and clout. It’s time to level that political playing field. If you’re a small business owner, what did your local Chamber of Commerce do for you? Was it your advocate? Or did they just invoice you for your dues? Where were your friends and neighbors who annually come knocking with one arm longer than the other looking for team sponsorships and silent auction items? Were they your advocates? Did they make and wear “Team Small Business” tee shirts to support you? How about your Mayors and City Council members? What happened to your voice? The truth is … you don’t have one. There is no organization that stepped up to the plate to speak for you and challenge the CoVid-19 crony-capitalist-business-closure-narrative while state and local government picked the winners and losers. Non-essential?
It’s time for that to change. It’s time to reimagine political organization and advocacy. It’s time for the entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic to take their seat at the table.
Commentaires