What’s in Store for Virginia’s Small Businesses in 2016 Presented by Nicole Riley, Virginia State DirectorNovember 20, 2015

Overview Who is NFIB? Small Business Optimism – is there any? Challenges facing Virginia’s small businesses

Who is NFIB Since its founding in San Mateo, California, in 1943, NFIB has been America’s leading small-business advocacy association. NFIB has a team of lobbyists in Washington, D.C. and all 50 states fighting to give every type of small and independent business a voice in government policy-making. A nonpartisan, nonprofit association, NFIB has 350,000 small and independent business owners across the nation. There are approximately 6,000 members in Virginia.

Industry Breakdown: VIRGINIA

What is NFIB’s Mission NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect a small business owner’s right to own, operate and grow their business. NFIB’s main educational mission is to instruct and remind lawmakers and policymakers that small businesses are not smaller versions of big businesses, but instead have uniquely different difficulties in remaining solvent, and that small business – not big business, big labor, or big government – is the one that employs the majority of working Americans and generates almost all net new jobs.

What NFIB is NOT: NOT a voice for Big Business: –60% of NFIB members have 5 or fewer employees. –55% of NFIB members report gross sales of $350,000 or less. NOT under the direction of major contributors: –NFIB’s overall membership will always determine NFIB policies. –Each NFIB member gets ONE vote. No exceptions. –To prevent un-due influence by any one member or group, NFIB dues are capped at a maximum of $10,000.

NFIB Public Policy Unique among organizations, NFIB takes positions only on what its members, through regular balloting, say is vital to their survival. Throughout each Congressional & General Assembly session, NFIB highlights key votes on legislation that would have a major impact on small business and reports those votes in our biannual Voting Record publications

NFIB Research Foundation The NFIB Research Foundation is a small business- oriented research and information organization affiliated with the National Federation of Independent Business. NFIB research and polls, such as its monthly Small- Business Economic Trends, have been used and cited by Federal Reserve officials, Congress, state legislatures and top gubernatorial and presidential administration officials as one of the more valuable barometers of the American economy.

OCT - Small Business Optimism Flat Lined MAY - Small Business Optimism Rises, Yet Nothing to Write Home About Jan - Hiring Spike Good, Signals Better Direction

Single Most Important Problem Facing Your Business

Health Care Costs

Challenges Facing VA Small Businesses Uncertainty at the Federal Level Federal Tax Policy Healthcare Reform Regulation Tsunami Virginia Challenges National Issues becoming State Issues Tax Reform Healthcare Workers Compensation

Questions Thank you Nicole Riley –Virginia State Director –National Federation of Independent Business