Small Business Owners

Ken Rakusin is frustrated. You would be too. Since 2009, the owner of Gordon Brush Manufacturing Co. has been trying to expand his 51,000-square-foot City of Commerce factory by 20,000 square feet. That would mean a larger factory floor, more office space for the engineers who work with customers to design new products, conference rooms, a spacious cafeteria. It would mean room to expand beyond Rakusin's current workforce of 85. More sales. Higher payroll. More property tax, sales tax, income tax. A $1.5-million investment in construction alone.

Here are some suggestions from experts for small businesses deciding whether to offer employee health insurance in 2014: 1. Consider the nature of your business. Small companies made up primarily of owners - such as physician and dentist offices and architectural and CPA firms - are likely to find that it makes financial sense to provide employee insurance, healthcare consultant Robert Laszewski says. "I expect they'll continue to offer insurance through the group model because that's the way to get tax-deductible health insurance.

The job outlook at America's small businesses is the worst it's ever been, according to new research. Last month, 21% of small business owners said they expected to lower head count over the next six months - the highest percentage recorded by the Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index since its launch in 2003. In July, the last time the data was compiled, just 10% of bosses said they planned to shrink employee ranks. More than six in 10 owners said they would keep their workforce steady, while 17% said they intended to boost hiring.

HATFIELD, Pa. - President Obama cast himself in the role of Santa Claus during a visit to a toy factory  Friday, suggesting that Republican lawmakers should get only a lump of coal in their stockings if they don't work with him this month to extend tax cuts for the middle class. “I've been keeping my own naughty-and-nice list for Washington,” Obama told a crowd gathered on the factory floor of the Rodon Group facility, flanked by elaborate roller coasters and Ferris wheels built of Tinkertoys and K'Nex building toys.

WASHINGTON - A top Democrat pressured fellow progressives Tuesday to consider long-term changes to the social safety net, even as the party digs in for a fight to save Medicare and other government programs from deep budget cuts. As closed-door talks continue with the hope of a year-end deal, President Obama will travel to a Pennsylvania toy store this week to pressure Congress to extend the expiring tax cuts for the middle class, while letting those for the wealthiest 2% of Americans expire.

Small-business owners are feeling more holiday cheer this year, which makes them more inclined to give bonuses and throw parties than in recent years, according to a new report. A survey of 501 bosses who each manage fewer than 100 employees found that 35% will give bonuses, up from 29% last year, according to the poll from American Express Co. And 4 in 10 said they will throw a holiday party, up from 35% in 2011. But they'll cut back slightly on celebration costs, spending $959 on average instead of $1,029.

Small-business owners are increasingly feeling the holiday cheer, with more giving bonuses and throwing parties than in recent years, according to a new report. A survey of 501 bosses managing fewer than 100 employees each found that, on average, they plan to give out a 9% paycheck boost to their workers this year. Some 35% of small-business owners will give bonuses, up from 29% last year, according to the poll from American Express. And four in 10 supervisors said they'll throw a holiday party, up from 35% in 2011.

Re “ Boehner still faces House divided ,” Nov. 13 Voters in this election were very aware of the looming “fiscal cliff.” Mitt Romney's solution was to cut expenses/essential programs; President Obama was very clear he would raise taxes. The country voted to raise taxes. Note to Congress: Get the job done. We've got to move on; time is of the essence. Global opportunities are passing us by every day our country stalls. Elizabeth Eyerman Los Angeles I found the first comments by Obama and House Speaker John A. Boehner after the election very telling.

President Obama, gearing up for his “fiscal cliff” showdown with Congress, said Saturday that this week's election results prove that voters will not tolerate “politicians who see compromise as a dirty word.” Echoing the tone of his Friday remarks from the White House, Obama said in his weekly radio address he was open to “compromise and new ideas” in preventing automatic tax increases, set to kick in at the end of the year....

Don't look to small businesses for a vote of confidence in the economy. Pessimistic owners are scaling back hiring plans, rethinking expansion and fretting over weak sales as they wait for stability. An optimism index from the National Federation of Independent Business slipped slightly to 92.8 in September from an August reading of 92.9. Hiring plans plunged as fewer owners hired and more slashed head counts. Job creation in September lagged the previous two months. Capital outlays over the last six months slipped, with fewer owners reporting spending on new equipment, vehicles and property.