Small-Business Client Optimism Barometer Drops

The tone of the presidential election; rapidly rising health care premiums; little time or support for retirement planning; tepid stock market performance—these are just a few of the concerns cited by small-business owners responding to a new Bank of America survey.

According to Bank of America’s Small Business Owner Report, the uncertain economic and political environment in the U.S. has business owners worried. Few are feeling confident about hiring or making big investments in their workforces, for example.

The main sources of concern cited by small-business owners won’t be surprising to anyone who follows the news headlines. Nearly four out of five (79%) express concern over the effectiveness of U.S. government leaders. In addition, 67% think the presidential election will affect their business “a lot” or “somewhat,” while 53% believe the outcome of Congressional elections will have an impact.

When asked what issues are most important to them in the upcoming elections, small-business owners cite “taxes and health care policy, as well as the economy and job growth,” explains Robb Hilson, small-business executive for Bank of America. 

“Interestingly, while anxiety over the U.S. and global stock market has also increased since spring of 2015, concern over all other economic factors we surveyed for has declined, including corporate tax rates, the strength of the U.S. dollar, commodities prices, consumer spending, interest rates and credit availability,” Hilson says.

PLANADVISER research has shown that small-business owners represent an important and growing marketplace for the services of retirement-specialist advisers, especially at a time when regulatory pressures, litigation risks and general economic challenges leave small-business owners working as hard as ever to make ends meet.

“This spring, small-business owners’ optimism that local, national and global economies will improve is significantly down from previous years,” Hilson adds. “At the same time, they are feeling less optimistic about expected revenue growth, while their intent to hire and apply for loans has also declined.”

The full Small Business Owner Report is available here, including business owners’ presidential election predictions.