Q. How could the Colorado legislature better address the unique challenges faced by small business owners?

A: I truly believe that small businesses are the backbone of America, especially in towns like Olde Town Arvada. With that being said, being a small business owner is constantly an uphill battle and it's constantly getting more difficult. I certainly feel that the legislature can play an active role in helping small businesses like mine flourish. As an example, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to afford rent in a centralized business district such as Olde Town Arvada.

Part of the charm of shopping or supporting small businesses in small towns is that you can find unique items for sale, individualized services and actually meet and build relationships with business owners. I can foresee a day in the future where a place like Olde Town Arvada has priced the small businesses out and as a result only big boxes, investors or corporately backed franchises are the only ones who can afford to stay open in our town. This would inevitably mean that those with less capital, such as female or minority-owned businesses, are forced to rent in less desirable locations or, worse still: not even be able to operate in the very community in which they live. 

Our legislature should most certainly support small businesses by helping through rent assistance, control, or other such measures to ensure small towns can retain small businesses. Many of us are drowning in rental fees and barely making ends meet as rent increases annually. Owners and landlords are price gouging and something needs to be done to give small businesses more opportunities to not only rent, but actually purchase commercial spaces so that we're in better control of our businesses and futures. It can be very disheartening owning and operating a small business as a solopreneur to then be "beat out" by investors who don't even live in or know anything about our community. It's the reason for high turnover of small businesses in small towns such as Olde Town Arvada.

Beyond these measures, our legislature can also help small businesses such as mine by streamlining business processes such as licensure or taxation for example. People talk a lot about how hard it is to be a small business owner: yes, it is hard to market, gain and retain clients, and to offer high quality goods and services. However, believe it or not these are not actually the “hard” aspects of running a business; the difficulty actually lies in compliance with local, state, federal laws, regulations, and mandates. Even with the help of a financial professional for example, when it comes time to submit my taxes I am often aggrieved and frustrated by the sheer volume of taxes and ways in which I am to submit them.

To be honest, it feels as if the system is set up to prevent people from setting up small businesses in an effort to prevent people from taking the risks associated with opening up a small business. Our legislature should instead embrace small business and individuals like me, and make a concerted effort to streamline the ways in which we can create and retain businesses. The American dream is alive and well for people like me, but without government action I fear that small businesses may eventually be more of a rarity than the norm. Colorado can be a leader in small business development and show the rest of the nation what small communities and thriving businesses can truly look like.