How Small Business Can Influence Policymakers

By Alexa Vaughn Entrepreneur.com



With the eyes of the world glued to this year's presidential campaigns, it's easy for local election issues to escape the public's radar. But entrepreneurs need to be tuned in because the results usually have an immediate impact on their businesses and the communities surrounding them.

Local elections often determine policies concerning hot topics such as eminent domain, workers' compensation, taxes and rent control. And entrepreneurs such as Steve Caughran, owner of Higher Ground Engineering and Land Surveying, must be more creative than executives of major corporations if they want their interests taken seriously by politicians and the voting public.

Statewide Elections

When a political initiative started by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger surfaced in California, for example, Caughran found that joining the National Federation of Independent Business helped him lobby for his company's interests despite his tight work schedule.

"Whenever they felt they needed the perspective of a business owner from Fresno, I would get the call on that and be able to talk at press conferences about my perspective on the issue," says Caughran, who eventually headed his region's NFIB action council. "As I got more involved, I also got to interact with the governor, as well as set up press conferences for senators and representatives in my area."...