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IPA SBRB study:
two-thirds of small business owners believe President Bush’s
re-election will have a positive effect on both the economy and
federal policies for small business and are optimistic about
direction of the country; major concern as only 36 percent believe
election results will have positive impact on reducing rising
healthcare costs.
BUFFALO GROVE, IL (November 10, 2004) – An International
Profit Associates Small Business Research Board (IPA SBRB) study
released today indicates owners of small businesses are solidly
predicting the re-election of President George W. Bush will lead to
improvements in the economy in 2005.
The nationwide IPA SBRB poll of small business owners concluded
that they were active participants in 2004 Presidential elections,
with the great majority voicing their opinions with their vote. The
IPA SBRB study found that 91% of the respondents voted on November
2.
While the study did not ask who the small business owners voted
for, the IPA SBRB poll clearly illustrates support for President
Bush and optimism for an improved economy next year.
The study shows that 67% of those responding said the re-election
of the president will have a positive impact on the 2005 economy.
Only 13% said there would be no effect while 16% said there would be
a negative impact and 4% had no opinion.
In addition, the survey indicated that there is approval for the
general direction in which the country is headed, 68% said they were
optimistic, 28% were pessimistic and 4% had no opinion.
By contrast, controlling healthcare costs continues to be a
concern. In a previous, IPA SBRB poll in September, healthcare costs
were considered second only to the general economy as a major
concern for small business and their single most rapidly increasing
expense. In this current study, only 36% of small business owners
felt that President Bush’s election would have a positive effect on
controlling healthcare costs, 31% said it would have no effect, 23%
indicated it would have a negative effect and 10% had no opinion.
"While it is clear the survey shows optimism about President
Bush’s second term and his ability to deal with the economy and
polices relating to small business, it is plainly evident that the
president can greatly help small businesses by purposing policies
that control their healthcare costs," said Gregg M. Steinberg,
President of International Profit Associates, sponsors of the IPA
SBRB.
Regarding President Bush’s re-election and federal policies on
small business, 67% said it would have a positive effect while 16%
said it would be negative, 12% said it would have no effect and 5%
had no opinion.
This paralleled small business owner’s impression that President
Bush’s re-election would also have a healthy impact on policies in
the states in which they are located with 64% saying it would be
positive, 21% saying it would negative, 13% saying it would have no
effect and 2% with no opinion.
The International Profit Associates Small Business Research Board
has been created to determine the opinions of small business owners
and managers on a wide variety of topics related to their own
business as well as national and international issues that may
impact their operations.
Participants in the poll provide feedback on significant issues
and allow for real-time insight into the state of small businesses
nationwide. The universe of participants is developed from among
small businesses across the United States. More than 175 small
businesses owners and senior managers participated in this IPA SBRB
poll. The IPA SBRB study is a voluntary survey conducted via phone,
email and fax. The poll was structured and supervised through an
independent resource.
The latest information about the IPA Small Business Research
Board can be found at
www.ipasbrb.com.
International Profit Associates, Inc. (IPA) is the largest
privately held provider of management consulting services to small
and medium-sized businesses in North America. IPA and its more than
1,800 professionals offer a wide range of proven and innovative
methodologies to help businesses grow and prosper regardless of the
economic cycle. IPA either provides directly or through its
affiliated companies a comprehensive array of business advisory
services, tax and estate planning services or merger, acquisition
and other financial advisory services in the United States and
Canada. More information about IPA can be found at
www.ipa-iba.com.
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