It's tough to run a business in the US. I spend about 40% of my time doing regulatory crap. It's not for the faint of heart...

Typical looting statist scum.
Irrationally assuming the only solution is more meddling by con-gress when they created the problems by meddling.

Washington Post = stupid $%^&ing looting idiots spouting propaganda bullshit

Con-gress created the problems to favor big business (including the Washington Post) that runs con-gress. They won't do anything to increase competition for big business unless it is beneficial to big business.
An e-tax is a perfect example. Give entreprenuers a lower tax rate just long enough to become a minor success, then screw them with high taxes so the only thing they can do is sell out to Wall St and big business.
Con-gress, get the %^&* out of the way, you looting @$$#0|e$!
Eliminate income taxes, payroll taxes, and all health and environmental regulations on all individuals and businesses with less than 1000 employees.

Christmas advice from old guy who's been there and done that. Go into cash business. Sell things off a table at county fairs, or temporary tenants in malls. Don't think you can't make some money at it. Teach this to your kids so they can have backup, just in case their expensive college degree is not working.

americas entrepreneurs need more help, yes it is called LASSIE FAIR (?) or just LEAVE US ALONE.
Ayn Rand educated us to this fact that arose in the 1700's in france the usa government should heed it but they will not. That being the case less businesses will start up and more businesses will fail. What was written in Atlas is now in full bloom.

Regulatory overreach is the single biggest killer of innovation - and business in general.

I can tell you why there arent a lot of small businesses opening up- specifically my info is relative to Las Vegas:
1) One must apply for a business license in order to do ANY business here, and you have to be pre-approved as to what you want to do (It must fit into their approved categories).
2) Once you apply, you must sit on your hand for 45 days while the city comes and inspects to make sure that you have set the business up according to the rules (handicap access, meet all the building plans and inspections, etc). You have to obtain a lease and make all the improvements that are required BEFORE they allow you to operate. If you havent met them, you dont get the license
3) You need separate licenses for each thing that you want to do. A local convenience store close to me has about a dozen licenses- all with annual fees that need to be paid.
4) In order to get the local licenses, you must get a generalized license from Nevada- they just increased the cost of that EACH YEAR to $650 if you are incorporated, You dont have to actually be selling anything or be profitable to need to pay this.
5) If you are lucky and wind up successful and sell $4 million a year, there is a gross receipts tax that is assessed regardless of whether you make a dime.

Net result is that for Las Vegans, at least, its NOT Congress that keeps business startups low, its the LOCAL restrictions and costs that stop a lot of people right in their tracks.

The city sent around "business development" people to encourage businesses. I had to laugh. They actually asked what they could do to help, and I said GET OUT OF THE WAY, and asked them to leave.

Ignorance is costly and the ignorance on the left about the realities of economics is horrifically expensive. Government programs are inherently expensive at best and massively fraudulent at worst. This is for the simple reason that there is no incentive to control costs or provide a service that is cost effective. Politics is the profession of choice for the scoundrel which is why there are so many scoundrels in politics.

The good news is that the fed is so inept that they can't enforce it all. Unless, of course, you get on their bad side. Then, you get an 'audit' and they've got you.

It finally dawned on me. Could this be a Galt Recovery?
We've reached the tipping point where a majority of the producers are saying we've had enough and we're not going to help perpetuate an economy where we and our contributions are taken for granted. So, good-bye.

This is exactly what a "Progressive" recovery looks like thanks for the over-regulation, the attacks on the private sector and the runaway expansion of the "faux" economy money supply (print bogus dollars until it hurts). Being that this is also the first time in such a cycle that business deaths outpace business births also bodes ill for this "anemic" Obama recovery! On second thought! Its not a recovery at all, just a bunch of bogus numbers from the beltway pirates and their "cooked" books. Real unemployment is still over 10% and we are still in a recession despite what this administration and its apologists are trying to promote!

A partner and I started up a small business one and a half years ago. And then along came the new sage grouse rules. And we are out of business.

The final death throes are unfolding as we speak.

When I first went into business for myself way back in 1969, there was nothing to it. If you had the money and desire and energy and were a bit of a gambler you could open up in many cases in a couple of days. Perhaps you might have to pay an occupancy fee and have the premises inspected unless you bought out an existing business. From that point on, it was up to you. I suspect that is no longer the case. I wonder how many Gulchers in business now or recently out of business could tell me what they had to do to create a start-up.

immigration is one of the best ways to revive small business?
these people are delusional and traitorous against the 95 million
u.s. citizens who are out of work. . awful. -- j
.

All this complaining about regulation and overreach, etc. Don't you know what political campaign funds and benevolent organizations like the Clinton Foundation are for?
/s

If you ar thinking of leaving I suggest a review of the 2014 Economic Freedom report of countries that outrank the US in freedom and being business friendly, and avoid the top 10 in this article (most of which I have visited)http://listverse.com/2015/12/18/10-po...

This is the first step to equality through economic justice. This nation has been fundamentally changed. whoops! Sorry, that may have been to political.