[mrod]

More businesses are closing than starting. Can Congress help turn that around? - The Washington Post

More businesses are closing than starting - DailyHerald.com

Just send back the companies that went south and keep your illegals imagrants!

 

[Dr. Evil]

Can't be mrod. They keep telling me NY is open for business.

 

[goperfect]

This is a very complicated issue.

What are the reasons these business are closing?

Are they closing due to over regulation of the Government?

Are they shutting down because the market they chose to open in is flooded? A new coffee shop in certain areas of Buffalo, if opened recently, will probably not flourish. We have a coffee shop on every freaken corner.

Are the new entrepreneur's willing to work 16 hour days until they get established? Opening something new is NOT an easy task.

To blame on Congress or to say they need to fix this problem is not fair. I do not want them to get any more involved.

 

[Dr. Evil]

This is a very complicated issue.

What are the reasons these business are closing?

Are they closing due to over regulation of the Government?

Are they shutting down because the market they chose to open in is flooded? A new coffee shop in certain areas of Buffalo, if opened recently, will probably not flourish. We have a coffee shop on every freaken corner.

Are the new entrepreneur's willing to work 16 hour days until they get established? Opening something new is NOT an easy task.

To blame on Congress or to say they need to fix this problem is not fair. I do not want them to get any more involved.

Meh, if it's all the same to you, I'll just blame Cuomo.

 

[BerettaGuy]

BUT BUT BUT! Everyone in the local media here in Buffalo keep saying the City is on the rebound because there is a crane on the skyline.
Rebound my butt.

 

[goperfect]

Meh, if it's all the same to you, I'll just blame Cuomo.

Doc, as always man, you can blame anyone and everyone that you like. I like to blame Cuomo as well.

I just wanted to add that sometimes starting brand new is not as easy as some think. And I wanted to start a conversation. Thats all, I'll shut up now!

 

[Jimbo_79]

Goperfect may be on to something here. The more you blame someone for something the more they feel obligated to get involved. While congress, state governments etc don't help there are other factors as well. Since princess is in charge he gets most of the blame...not that it's a bad thing, he does make a great figure to yell at. On that note...FUAC!

By the way, doc does run his own business so he's doing something right as well!

 

[Kiotibill]

This is a very complicated issue.

What are the reasons these business are closing?

Are they closing due to over regulation of the Government?

Are they shutting down because the market they chose to open in is flooded? A new coffee shop in certain areas of Buffalo, if opened recently, will probably not flourish. We have a coffee shop on every freaken corner.

Are the new entrepreneur's willing to work 16 hour days until they get established? Opening something new is NOT an easy task.

To blame on Congress or to say they need to fix this problem is not fair. I do not want them to get any more involved.

You do make some valid points, start up is indeed difficult and not for the lazy, "easy path" type of people. But gov't can be responsible for the overall environment in which a new business either flourishes, or whithers. Taxes, regulation/laws, infrastructure, educational institutions, etc... What can the gov do? Maybe a whole lot less, freedom breeds prosperity....

 

[Dr. Evil]

Doc, as always man, you can blame anyone and everyone that you like. I like to blame Cuomo as well.

I just wanted to add that sometimes starting brand new is not as easy as some think. And I wanted to start a conversation. Thats all, I'll shut up now!

You have to stop taking me so seriously. Keep up the good work.

 

[sawman]

The local pharmacy is closing due to getting bought up by a competitor plus the local McDonalds is closing due to a lack of traffic after 25 years . They were well established but a lot of the locals have packed up and left so that had a lot of influence upon the McDonalds closing . The apartment market has taken a huge hit because of all of the people leaving . I still say the busiest man in town is the u- haul man as he can't keep them in stock .

 

[ratbrandt]

When 72% think their children will be worse off than they are, there is clearly a lack of optimism in the nation. This is "collateral damage" from an administration demonizes both small business and hard work. They have done almost the impossible -- destroyed the future of a once great nation.

 

[goperfect]

You have to stop taking me so seriously. Keep up the good work.

I take nothing posted here serious. Everything to me is just conversation. Good and bad!

 

[spat]

Doc, as always man, you can blame anyone and everyone that you like. I like to blame Cuomo as well.

I just wanted to add that sometimes starting brand new is not as easy as some think. And I wanted to start a conversation. Thats all, I'll shut up now!

For an individual startup, your reasoning is correct, but when it's hundreds statewide there must be a common cause. If NY had twice the infant mortality rate of the rest of the country people would be rightly concerned, this is the equivalent for businesses.

No proof it is government's fault, but I'd lay pretty good odds on that being the culprit.

 

[4excalibur]

When 72% think their children will be worse off than they are, there is clearly a lack of optimism in the nation. This is "collateral damage" from an administration demonizes both small business and hard work. They have done almost the impossible -- destroyed the future of a once great nation.

Rome fell, Incas fell, Egyptians fell..as will America..when it happens within a half of generation and you have two young kiddies, thats scary!

 

[99cummins]

I don't think govt is solely to blame but they are a part of it. I agree the govt needs to stay out of things. Govt shouldn't directly create jobs but should create a climate that is business friendly. Taxes and regulation are not. And our current govt LOVES taxes and regulation. I believe some of the problem is that people are lazy and getting lazier. When you can make a good living on govt handouts that never end, why work? There is more incentive not to work then to work. And younger generations seem to be the worst.

 

[944turbo]

Who is John Galt?

 

[aardvarkjff]

This is a very complicated issue.

What are the reasons these business are closing?

Are they closing due to over regulation of the Government?

Are they shutting down because the market they chose to open in is flooded? A new coffee shop in certain areas of Buffalo, if opened recently, will probably not flourish. We have a coffee shop on every freaken corner.

Are the new entrepreneur's willing to work 16 hour days until they get established? Opening something new is NOT an easy task.

To blame on Congress or to say they need to fix this problem is not fair. I do not want them to get any more involved.

OK, I just had to fold my business this July. Well, I can say the biggest issue is the STATE govt regulation.
First anyone who does anything with swinging a hammer is just insane. For our business, we used to be on a payroll "pay as you go" for workers comp. That meant that if you had 3 guys getting paid for XX hours this week, they charged you a certain WC premium for that week. Well now, being a small business, we did not have "enough premiums" to make the company happy, so they cancelled that plan and we are like the other businesses of pay a FULL years premium based on what you estimate your FULL year's payroll to be. because in NYS you can be sued for anything, thus premiums are through the roof.
Second, anyone who touches public/state aided projects likely has to pay prevailing wages. Well, I that is between 50 and 100 dollars and hour for squeezing caulk out of a tube and smoothing it over. "Market" rate is 25-50 an hour so this is ridiculously expensive and remember it these are state aided funds so your tax dollars are paying 50-100% more than the customer could by the services for from the local market. Remember, you took in income of at least 50-100 an hour to cover you payroll, and w/c insurance is based on payroll, so you pay more in premiums for the same guys doing the same work with the same risks of accidents.
Regulations are out of control. In the past few years, there has been changes to the contracts that state-aided contractor use. One provision is that a dedicated person has to be on site at all times in case there is any questions on what is going on? So now I have to pay a guy to hang out and wait for someone at 10pm (school work can typically only be done second shift) and wait to see if a janitor has any questions about the caulking we do?? Well that is a good use of talent and money. But your tax dollars are paying for it.
Then there is the other insurance requirements, you have to insure everyone and their brother, even after the job is done. Every name costs someone money. So a small business passes it on, but by the time this is all said and done, profits often don't outweigh the administrative costs. Large corporations have entire divisions set up to do nothing but push papers around. Small businesses can spend HOURS and HOURS doing nothing but trying to comply with all the regulations, taking time away from their actual income generating functions.
I believe within 5 years there will be nearly no small businesses left in the state, there will simply be mega corporations that will represent 85% of all private sector jobs. The other 15% will be the under the table cash only enterprises. Just my thoughts.....

 

[Holdover]

Who is John Galt?

He played for Baltimore didn't he?

 

[catskillkid]

OK, I just had to fold my business this July. Well, I can say the biggest issue is the STATE govt regulation.
First anyone who does anything with swinging a hammer is just insane. For our business, we used to be on a payroll "pay as you go" for workers comp. That meant that if you had 3 guys getting paid for XX hours this week, they charged you a certain WC premium for that week. Well now, being a small business, we did not have "enough premiums" to make the company happy, so they cancelled that plan and we are like the other businesses of pay a FULL years premium based on what you estimate your FULL year's payroll to be. because in NYS you can be sued for anything, thus premiums are through the roof.
Second, anyone who touches public/state aided projects likely has to pay prevailing wages. Well, I that is between 50 and 100 dollars and hour for squeezing caulk out of a tube and smoothing it over. "Market" rate is 25-50 an hour so this is ridiculously expensive and remember it these are state aided funds so your tax dollars are paying 50-100% more than the customer could by the services for from the local market. Remember, you took in income of at least 50-100 an hour to cover you payroll, and w/c insurance is based on payroll, so you pay more in premiums for the same guys doing the same work with the same risks of accidents.
Regulations are out of control. In the past few years, there has been changes to the contracts that state-aided contractor use. One provision is that a dedicated person has to be on site at all times in case there is any questions on what is going on? So now I have to pay a guy to hang out and wait for someone at 10pm (school work can typically only be done second shift) and wait to see if a janitor has any questions about the caulking we do?? Well that is a good use of talent and money. But your tax dollars are paying for it.
Then there is the other insurance requirements, you have to insure everyone and their brother, even after the job is done. Every name costs someone money. So a small business passes it on, but by the time this is all said and done, profits often don't outweigh the administrative costs. Large corporations have entire divisions set up to do nothing but push papers around. Small businesses can spend HOURS and HOURS doing nothing but trying to comply with all the regulations, taking time away from their actual income generating functions.
I believe within 5 years there will be nearly no small businesses left in the state, there will simply be mega corporations that will represent 85% of all private sector jobs. The other 15% will be the under the table cash only enterprises. Just my thoughts.....

I don't work directly in construction but I do work in an office where people do and you're right. I see this all the time. So much time and money is spent dealing with insurance and paying prevailing wage it's unbelievable. That and to have an engineer/consultant on-site the entire time to basically make sure that health and safety violations aren't made (hard hats are worn, steel toed boots are on) is pretty f-ing ridiculous if you ask me. I'm no expert on the matter but I firmly believe that there needs to be serious tort reform throughout our country. That will help negate the need for so much insurance and help bring costs at least somewhat back into line in construction, healthcare, and so many other industries. But that will never happen. Why? Because Obama and both parties are in the pockets of the trial lawyers and there's just too much damn money to be made.

 

[meketrefe]

Can politicians help with this? Yes. Do nothing or go away for good!..... Then the system will start healing by itself.