My take: What about a small business-friendly tax code

Based on testimonials, a key part of the program focuses on financials that go beyond a spreadsheet in helping participants understand the meaning behind the numbers.

Over the years, the program has blown past the  10,000 businesses in its title. Graduates operate businesses with a total of $27 billion in revenue. The most compelling finding from the 2024 report is that 99% of participants would recommend the program to other small business owners.

10,000  Businesses is sharpening its focus to include rural enterprises  that lack access to resources available to enterprises in metro areas.

According to participants, one of the program's strengths comes from people  in  diverse fields who gather in one classroom, minus the group think that can happen in sectors like tech.

An outgrowth of this remarkable program is 10,000 Small Businesses Voices, an advocacy effort that drills down into the issues facing program graduates.

Small Business Voices and the Bipartisan Policy Center recently issued a briefing memo on the tax bill now before  Congress.

The memo  asks policymakers to consider small business perspectives on issues, including updating the research  & development  and other tax credits which allow small businesses to assist in childcare, retirement policies, and overall innovation.

The R&D tax  credit is of particular importance to Delaware, given the emerging ecosystem of businesses in life science and other research-driven areas.

The recommendation goes beyond the usual push for lower taxes that typically allows "thousand-dollar suit"  lobbyists to influence Congress in catering to the wishes of corporate America, private equity, etc.

According to a February survey by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices, business respondents listed reforming tax policy as one of the top three priorities for the new Administration. Most believe the current federal tax system is unfavorable to small businesses.

Small businesses would also like to see predictability in the tax code, since they lack the resources to navigate an ever-changing landscape. That may not happen anytime soon, but seeing small businesses asking for a seat at the table is encouraging. - Doug Rainey, chief content officer.