What Clinton's small-business plan says about her: She understands
• It would create a standard deduction for the smallest businesses. I’ve been advocating this for a long time. In my early years in business, it was frustrating to keep receipts for every paper clip I bought just to claim a few hundred dollars as a write-off. It’s crazy for a very small business to have to deal with a whole pile of paperwork for a small deduction. With more people in the “gig economy,” this proposal could make life easier and put some money in your pocket, especially if you’re an Uber or Lyft driver, rent your place on Airbnb, do business on Etsy or eBay or are self-employed.
• It would improve access to financing/capital by cutting red tape for community banks and credit unions. The economic collapse in 2008 brought more stringent lending regulations, making it harder for small businesses — even those with good credit — to get loans. In the last couple of years, many “alternative” lenders in the “fintech” industry have sprung up to help fill this void, but, frankly, many of them are predatory.
• It would let entrepreneurs with student loans defer their payments interest-free while they're launching start-ups. This is an interesting idea and is likely to lead to an explosion of start-ups — at least on paper — as a means of deferring student loans.
• It would streamline the start-up process by offering incentives to local and state governments. Virtually all licensing and permitting roadblocks happen at the local and state level. If you want to start a consulting business, just print up some business cards and perhaps pay for a local business license. But if you want to open a restaurant, you’re going to face a lengthy permitting process. And many state licensing requirements are never going to be eliminated. Last year, when I needed a new gas line, I’m glad my plumber was licensed and knew what he was doing. Despite the constraints, as president, Clinton wouldn't be entirely powerless. For example, the Obama administration launched the “Startup in a Day” initiative to encourage local governments to digitize and streamline their permitting process. But much more could be done under a Clinton administration, such as providing more funds and technical assistance to municipalities.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/abrams/2016/08/24/hillary-clinton-small-business-plan/89227582/
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