"If my customers are going to have to pay more, they're going to think about that every time they pay, and they may decide not to," she said.
Matthews said trainers might decide to absorb the cost to keep customers, perhaps by lowering prices or throwing in freebies.
Many attorneys share her view. They could be required to add levies to their fees if the sales tax is expanded.
"Right now, it's really expensive for someone going to court in the United States," said Kenneth Petrulis, an attorney specializing in trust and estate law. "If you start putting on another tax, it's not a tax on the attorneys, it's a tax on the people who need attorneys.
"People turn to attorneys when they are in dire need, their life is ruined or they're facing adversity," he said.
Not every business owner resists charging customers more on behalf of the state, however.
"We pay taxes for everything, so why not pay taxes for services?" asked Echo Park hair stylist Rosa Martinez, 39, who charges $8 to $12 for haircuts. "It's not too much money."
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tami.abdollah@latimes.com
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evan.halper@latimes.com
