Small businesses have seen their fair share of struggles in the last four year under the Biden Administration. The cost of supplies and goods went up with inflation, and numerous businesses even got run out of the market due to the insanity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ridiculous shutdowns that came with it. But, as there has been since President Trump reassumed office, hope is on the horizon.
President Trump has made it clear from day one he plans to invigorate a floundering U.S. economy by promoting small businesses and putting America first. It is bringing about hopes of a new golden era for American small businesses, and optimism for the future is as high as it has been since President Trump's first term in office.
The Texas Director of the National Federation of Independent Business Jeff Burdett says extending the Trump tax cuts from 2016 is a good place to start.
"They are set to expire later this year...and the sooner Congress can move with urgency, the more confidence small business owners are going to have," he says.
Business optimism under the Biden Administration plummeted to depths not seen in numerous years. All as a result of his stringent regulations, and general anti-business policies. He then committed what some might call government overreach when he tried installing the "Corporate Transparency Act."
That required millions of businesses to complete new "Beneficial Ownership Information" reports to the government, or risk fines. On top of already dealing with managing sales tax, payroll tax, property tax, and all the ridiculous regulations. All of it stopped small businesses from not just flourishing but killed many of them in their tracks.
Meanwhile, Texas still has some of the most business-friendly policies in the country, even during the Biden years. But there is more that could be done in Austin to ensure we add to the golden age of small business boom.
"Everything you have in your business...furniture, computers, raw materials...all those things are taxed," says Burdett. "There are bills int he House and Senate that would raise the exemption amount on the Business Personal Property Tax, and that would really help our small businesses."
The new Trump era of growth has arrived, and while it might take a few months to fully get off the ground, the groundwork is being laid for a boom.
It has brought a renewed sense of optimism to small business owners for the first time in years, after the Business Optimism Index dropped below the 50-year average under the Biden Administration.
"Right after the election, that index went above the 50-year average, and has stayed there the last three months. So, it certainly shows that business owners are optimistic for the future," Burdett says.
The return of President Trump has brought about a number of positives for Americans. Now, his return is bringing back a huge positive for American small businesses again. That positive is hope, and optimism, in a strong economy. Something that has been lacking since 2021.
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