Survey Of American Business Confidence Going Into The November Election (Graphic: The Principal Financial Group Well-Being Index: Business Owners)

American business owners are optimistic about the health of their businesses but lack confidence in the economy, according to new research from Principal Financial Well Being IndexSM: Business Owners. With Election Day quickly approaching, business owners say the state of the economy is the financial issue that will have the biggest impact on their vote, followed by health care reform and taxes.

Almost half of those surveyed (47 percent) say their business financials improved compared to a year ago and more than half (58 percent) believe their financials will improve in the next 12 months. But when it comes to the broader picture, nearly half of those surveyed (46 percent) are cautious about the economic outlook for 2013, and two-thirds are holding off on making long-term financial commitments because of the current state of the economy.

“While owners of small to medium-sized businesses report growing confidence in what they can control – their own companies – they do so with a healthy dose of caution in the context of the overall economy,” said Amy Friedrich, vice president of the Principal Financial Group ^®. “As these owners prepare for Election Day, the economy will not only influence their vote, but also their long-term plans for spending.”

Business owners are also reluctant to spend cash. Sixty-three percent said they have surplus capital, but almost three-quarters (73 percent) of those who have surplus capital are not spending any of it. Still many business owners plan to grow their businesses in the near term. Forty-two percent plan to add staff in the next year and almost one-third (31 percent) plan to expand business operations in the U.S.

The Principal Financial Well-Being Index: Business Owners, which surveys American business owners of small to medium-sized businesses with 10 to 500 workers, is part of a series on the financial well-being of Americans released quarterly by the Principal Financial Group. The survey is conducted online by Harris Interactive ^®. This is The Principal’s first survey on the financial well-being of the American business owner.

State of the economy, health care driving decision-makingThe same financial issues swaying business owners’ votes are also influencing how they run their businesses. Health care and the economy are top-of-mind, with more than half saying health care costs (57 percent) and economic growth (54 percent) are impacting their business decisions. Other top issues include uncertainty of taxes (45 percent), gas prices (43 percent), unemployment (37 percent) and inflation (36 percent).

It comes as no surprise that health care is a priority for business owners in both the political world and the business world. One-fourth (24 percent) rate their top concern for the well-being of their business as managing the cost and administrative responsibilities of health care and another 24 percent say understanding how health care reform impacts their business is their top concern.

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