Washington, D.C. (September 10, 2021)—Today, the Job Creators Network Foundation (JCNF) released the data from its August Monthly Monitor poll of 500 small business owners. The poll’s Small Business Intelligence Quotient (SBIQ), an index tracking overall small business optimism, fell sharply to 59.4—a drop of 4.1 points. The indicator is at a record low reading since the monthly survey launched in May.
Meanwhile, higher prices and inflation continue to be a leading concern among small businesses, followed by consumer spending and the threat of future COVID-19 restrictions. Seventy-five percent of respondents are worried about COVID-19 cases triggering government mandates that impact businesses. Only 33 percent of respondents said a government vaccine mandate would help small businesses while a plurality said it would hurt. The topline findings include:
View more polling details and crosstabs here.
Elaine Parker, President of the Job Creators Network Foundation, released the following statement:
“Concerns among small business owners are mounting and it’s having a dramatic effect on how they view the future, which could impact hiring, wage growth, and the potential for business expansion as the economy weathers the lingering pandemic. This vaccine mandate is an overreach of federal authority that threatens to weaken their optimism further. Trillion-dollar spending bills have become the norm, rather than the exception, which will push costs up for consumers and entrepreneurs alike. Meanwhile, a damaging cocktail of tax hikes and burdensome regulations are next on the docket. The Biden administration needs to stop its war on small business and rethink its tax and spend agenda. Main Street depends on it.”
Help
|
26% |
No Impact
|
18% |
Hurt
|
51% |
Approve
|
39% |
Disapprove
|
56% |
Unsure
|
5% |
Help a Lot
|
10% |
Help a Little
|
21% |
No Impact
|
14% |
Hurt a Little
|
21% |
Hurt a Lot
|
23% |
Unsure
|
10% |
Very Concerned
|
36% |
Somewhat Concerned
|
39% |
Not That Concerned
|
18% |
Not Concerned At All
|
7% |
Help a Lot
|
16% |
Help a Little
|
16% |
No Impact
|
30% |
Hurt a Little
|
17% |
Hurt a Lot
|
20% |
Unsure
|
20% |
Help a Lot
|
9% |
Help a Little
|
10% |
No Impact
|
15% |
Hurt a Little
|
18% |
Hurt a Lot
|
46% |
Unsure
|
2% |
Help a Lot
|
20% |
Help a Little
|
13% |
No Impact
|
21% |
Hurt a Little
|
15% |
Hurt a Lot
|
28% |
Unsure
|
4% |
Strongly Support
|
34% |
Somewhat Support
|
22% |
Somewhat Oppose
|
10% |
Strongly Oppose
|
28% |
Unsure
|
6% |