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Have you spoken with the local, state, or national legislatures that represent you? Do you feel like state and federal government officials understand the needs and challenges of small businesses like you? Share your experiences and thoughts on this issue to help other small business owners who might be considering ways to let their lawmakers know that small business owners want to be heard!

Lawmakers should spend recess talking to small business owners

The Hill
August 13, 2019
These attempts at small business outreach sound simple, but a new Small Business Majority scientific opinion poll found that only 12 percent of small business owners said they feel their government officials have a strong understanding of the issues they face. The poll found health care costs, access to capital, and taxes are among the top challenges facing small business owners. However, they reported feeling as though their representatives in Congress were more focused on special interests and the desires of big businesses than the needs of local businesses.

How AI Could Help Small Businesses

Harvard Business Review
June 3, 2019
On a Thursday morning at 5:30 AM, Alex sipped her latte, her elbows atop the service counter. Each day at this time, the sunlight through the front window blanketed her coffee shop and she enjoyed a few moments of peace and quiet before the morning rush began. With 30 minutes to spare before she corralled her baristas for their morning pep talk (and shot of espresso), she unlocked her iPad and pulled up her most valuable assistant: her small business dashboard. In seconds, Alex’s supply advisor scoured her accounts, sales and expense histories, local weather forecasts, event information, and past tourism data, and told her she would need five new sets of filters and 1,000 plastic cups for the coming week. She ordered them from Amazon with a single touch.