Health Care, Taxes Top Political Concerns for Small Business (Infographic) As the Presidential campaign takes center stage, here's a look at the issues entrepreneurs care about the most.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

What political issue is most crucial to the health of your small business?

Health care and tax policy will have the biggest impact on small businesses, according to a survey conducted for the small-business community Manta.com between July 31 and Aug. 8. Approximately one in five of the nearly 2,000 small-business owners surveyed said that either health care or tax policy had the greatest impact on their business when it came to political issues.

Here is a list of the other issues that small-business owners care about along with the percentage of respondents who said that issue was the most pressing for their business:

  • Government regulation -- 16 percent
  • Access to credit/ability to get a loan -- 11 percent
  • Budget deficit -- 9 percent
  • Unemployment -- 9 percent
  • Payroll tax -- 3 percent
  • Other -- 11 percent

Election 2012 - See where President Obama and Romney stand on Small Business Issues

If the election were up to small-business owners, then Mitt Romney would be the next U.S. President, with approximately six in 10 surveyed saying they would vote for the former Massachusetts governor, according to the survey results (see infographic below).

Related: What Paul Ryan on the GOP Ticket Could Mean for Small-Business Owners

Romney's selection of Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) has succeeded in energizing the conservative and Democratic base voters. But for small-business owners, who already largely leaned toward Romney, his arrival on the Republican ticket moved the voter needle only slightly, Manta's survey results show.

Click to Enlarge+

Health Care, Taxes Top Political Concerns for Small Business (Infographic)

What political issue is most critical to the health of your small business and why? Leave a note below and let us know.

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

'Nobody Ever Gave Me Anything': More Boomers Say They're Not Transferring Wealth to Family Until They're Dead

A new survey from Charles Schwab found boomers are more hesitant to distribute their wealth than other generations.

Leadership

The 4 Pillars of Leadership — How Process-Driven Leaders Enhance Performance

Let's explore how process-oriented leaders help drive businesses and teams forward — and how they can leverage their style for maximum impact.

Business News

Fans of Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog Combo Are In for a Big Surprise

Costco CEO Ron Vachris announced a change that's coming soon to the company's food courts.

Taxes

4 Tax Strategies Every High-Earning Entrepreneur Needs to Know for 2025

It is not a secret that many high-earning entrepreneurs feel shaken when tax season rolls around. The rules are constantly changing, and the stakes are high. Yet this upheaval also opens up exciting avenues to optimize your financial outcomes through proactive tax planning.

Side Hustle

This 29-Year-Old Quit Working 12-Hour Overnight Shifts Because Her Side Hustle Brings In Up to $8,000 a Month: 'It Makes Me Happy'

Breanna Meertins picked up a fun hobby in her free time — then learned about an opportunity that would change everything.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.