Small-Business Owners Should Make their Voices Heard

There are upwards of 30 million small businesses in the U.S. Behind each of these businesses are the entrepreneurs and founders who own and run them, a population that makes up a large portion of voters. The Presidential election on Tuesday, November 3rd is an opportunity for America’s small business owners to have a say in how they want the economy, government, and future of the country to operate. Voting is a medium through which small business owners can voice their desires for their companies and communities alike. The added strain of the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses everywhere is an additional reason for these owners to envision what future they desire moving forward.

A recent article from Inc. entitled, “3 Ways for Small-Business Owners to Make Their Vote Count,” explains the challenges that many small-business owners may have in mind when casting their ballots,

“Politicians looking to win the small-business vote should start by addressing the two largest barriers to entry entrepreneurs face when starting a business: access to capital and the implicit bias in capital decisions that limits opportunities for the New Majority of small-business owners. In the last 10 years, New Majority entrepreneurs have represented more than 50 percent of new businesses started in this country, creating 4.7 million new jobs, yet these owners are largely excluded in funding.”

One important statistic noted in the article is that “Only 5.5 percent of women-owned businesses in the U.S. access capital from banks or other financial institutions compared to 11.4 percent of male-owned companies.” The clear disparity in funding between women-owned businesses and male-owned businesses is an example of an issue affecting many women that could play a role in how and if they vote. One resource that is available for small-business owners everywhere is the “Vote for Small Business” online database. The company Hello Alice has created this non-partisan information hub dedicated to advocating for the #SmallBizVote.

wegg® believes in the power of all people exercising their right to vote. Whether you already voted, or are planning to on Election Day, make sure your voice is heard. Working to create a future that you want to live and thrive in is always worth it. Visit Vote.org for detailed voting information, state by state.