NFIB Weekly News
Leading the News
NFIB Thanks Congress for Passing Landmark Small Business Tax Relief Bill (07/03/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 3, 2025) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, applauds Congress for passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes a permanent extension of the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction, achieving NFIB’s top legislative priority to stop the small business tax hike.
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NFIB’s 2025 Fly-In included a session with top White House Economist Kevin Hassett (06/23/2025)
Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council, and Holly Wade, Executive Director of the NFIB Research Center connected with NFIB members and small business owners to discuss the state of the economy and key issues facing small businesses at NFIB’s annual Fly-In, in Washington, D.C.
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NFIB Applauds U.S. Senate Passage of Resolution Rescinding California’s Ability to Dictate Nationwide Vehicle Regulations (05/27/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 27, 2025) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, applauds the passage of H.J. Res. 88. NFIB sent a letter to the U.S. Senate in support of the resolution, which if enacted will rescind the federal waiver granted to California to implement more stringent vehicle emissions standards and require that 100% of new passenger vehicle sales be zero-emissions by 2035. A vote in favor of H.J. Res. 88 was considered an NFIB Key Vote in the 119th Congress.
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Quarterly survey focuses on the construction, manufacturing, retail, and services industries (05/27/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 27, 2025) – The NFIB Research Center released an industry-specific quarterly Small Business Economic Trends survey highlighting the construction, manufacturing, retail, and services industries. According to the report, the Optimism Index across the four reported industries decreased from the previous quarter. Despite this decline, optimism in the construction, manufacturing, and services industries was higher than that of the overall business community in April. In fact, the indices for each sector, excluding retail, remain above the overall Optimism Index 51-year average of 98. Optimism among small retailers landed significantly lower than the other three highlighted industries.
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Small businesses support one of the most pro-small business pieces of legislation in recent history (05/21/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 21, 2025) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, announced the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will be an NFIB Key Vote for the 119th Congress. NFIB sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives urging a vote in favor of the legislation and expressing strong support for its historic pro-Main Street policies.
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NFIB Releases New TV Ads Backing 20% Small Business Tax Deduction Ahead of Key Congressional Action (05/12/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 12, 2025) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, released new TV ads today urging Congress to prioritize making the expiring 20% Small Business Tax Deduction permanent and prevent a massive tax hike on 9 out of 10 small businesses. The TV ads are a continuation of NFIB’s multi-year campaign to make the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction permanent.
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Business Climate
NEW NFIB SURVEY: Small Business Optimism Remains Steady in June (07/08/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 8, 2025) – The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index remained steady in June, edging down 0.2 of a point to 98.6, slightly above the 51-year average of 98. A substantial increase in respondents reporting excess inventories contributed the most to the decline in the index. The Uncertainty Index decreased by five points from May to 89. Nineteen percent of small business owners reported taxes as their single most important problem, up one point from May and ranking as the top problem again. The last time taxes reached 19 percent was in July 2021.
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Labor quality remains a top problem for small businesses (07/02/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 2, 2025) – NFIB’s June jobs report found that 36% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in June, up two points from May.
“Despite the slowing labor market, many small business owners are still looking to attract applicants and hire for their open positions,” said Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “Compensation pressures remain strong for those owners who are competing to retain and attract talent in their business.”
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Small Business Optimism Above Average in May (06/18/2025)
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose above the 51-year average in May with better expected business conditions and sales as the greatest contributors to the increase. The Uncertainty Index also increased two points from April to 94. Taxes remain the chief concern for small business owners, with 18% ranking it as their biggest problem.
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Webinar Provides Tips to Decide if You Should Switch to an S Corp (06/16/2025)
NFIB’s latest webinar pulls back the curtain on the potential benefits of switching your LLC to an S Corp. Watch as Jamie Trull, CPA and financial educator highlights key indicators to help your small business save on taxes.
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NFIB launched an interactive map and tax calculator (06/04/2025)
What it means: Two new digital tools are available on NFIB’s website to provide real data on what will happen if the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction expires. Check out the new interactive map and tax calculator to see what losing the deduction would mean for your small business and local economy.
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NFIB supports small business in four new legal cases (06/03/2025)
The NFIB Small Business Legal Center is involved in numerous cases involving independent contractor classifications, nationwide injunctions, workplace bargaining agreements, and the enforceability of website terms and conditions.
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Wages and Benefits
NFIB Jobs Report: Labor Shortages Continue to Constrain Small Business Job Growth (05/01/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 1, 2025) – NFIB’s April jobs report found that 34% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in April, down six points from March, the lowest since January 2021.
“Small business owners remained open to hire and grow their workforce in April,” said Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “While the percent of open positions decreased a bit, Main Street firms are still struggling to find qualified applicants for their plentiful open positions.”
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Health Care: Small Business Pays More, Gets Less (04/16/2025)
What it means: Affordable health care is essential for the success of America’s small businesses. Small business owner Marcie Strouse shared with lawmakers the various ways Congress can provide relief from rising costs.
Our take: “Small businesses are paying more and getting less. Small firms pay nearly twice as much for health insurance as large businesses. Unlike large corporations, small businesses lack the bargaining power to negotiate lower premiums,” said Josselin Castillo, NFIB Principal Federal Government Relations.
Take Action: It is time for Congress to provide immediate relief for millions of Americans. Urge your elected officials to make health care more accessible and affordable to small business owners.
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Small Businesses Support Legislation to Restart the PAID Program (03/26/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 26, 2025) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, sent a letter to Rep. Glenn Grothman (WI-06) in strong support of his legislation, the Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act. This legislation would reinstate and codify the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program, which provided small businesses flexibility to self-report and correct minor wage and hour violations before incurring a penalty.
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NFIB Jobs Report: Small Business Job Creation Weakens in February (03/06/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 6, 2025) – NFIB’s February jobs report found that 38% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in February, up three points from January and the highest reading since August 2024. A seasonally adjusted net 15% of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months, down three points from January.
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NFIB report reveals a growing health insurance affordability crisis for small business owners and employers (02/19/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 19, 2025) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, released a new health care policy paper entitled, “Addressing the Health Insurance Affordability Crisis for Small Businesses.” The findings reveal a dire prognosis for the small-group insurance market as employer-provided health coverage is becoming unsustainable for millions of small businesses and their employees. The report also highlights the top legislative solutions Congress should enact to provide relief for small businesses.
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NFIB Jobs Report: Main Street Labor Costs Ease in December (01/09/2025)
Fewer small businesses plan to raise compensation in the coming months
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 9, 2025) – NFIB’s December jobs report found that 35% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in December, down one point from November. Seasonally adjusted, a net 29% of small business owners reported raising compensation in December, down three points from November and the lowest reading since March 2021.
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