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Small businesses have always been an integral part of the economy, contributing to job creation and economic growth. Over the last decade, small businesses have faced a variety of challenges, including economic downturns, government regulations, and evolving consumer preferences. Despite these difficulties, small businesses have continued to play a significant role in driving economic success. In this blog, we’ll examine the level of success small businesses have achieved in the economy over the last decade and how JOBS Act regulations have impacted this success.

The Role of Small Businesses in the Economy

Small businesses are often referred to as the backbone of the economy. According to the US Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses account for 44 percent of US economic activity and employ nearly half of the country’s private sector workforce. In fact, there are 33.2 million small businesses in the United States and they created 8.7 million jobs created between March 2020 and March 2021. Small businesses also contribute to innovation and competition in the marketplace, which in turn drives economic growth

Small Business Challenges and Successes

Over the last decade, small businesses have faced a variety of challenges, including the great recession, rising costs, and increased competition from online retailers. Despite these challenges, small businesses have continued to achieve success in the economy. With eight out of ten small businesses having no employees and 16% of small businesses having up to 19 employees, this sector of the economy is mostly driven by individuals who can take risks and innovate for growth.

Meaning, small business growth often depends on entrepreneurs’ risk-taking capability and ability to identify profitable opportunities. Additionally, the passage of the JOBS Act in 2012 has enabled small businesses to access capital more easily than ever before. The act allows businesses to raise money from investors without having to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This allows smaller organizations that are still private to raise millions of dollars in capital while tapping into a much wider pool of potential investors.

The Impact of JOBS Act Regulations on Small Business Success

The JOBS Act allows companies to use SEC exemptions from registration, which include:

Reg CF to raise up to $5 million
Reg A to raise up to $75 million
Reg D to raise an unlimited amount of capital

These capital-raising methods allow small businesses to access a much wider pool of potential investors, obtain higher levels of capital, and achieve greater success in the economy. By allowing organizations to tap into an audience of investors they would have not had access to previously, the JOBS Act has enabled small businesses to build relationships with their customers, grow their operations, and create good jobs in local economies. With the continued support of government regulations and technological advancements, small businesses are poised to play an even greater role in driving economic success in the years to come.

Small businesses are essential to the economic well-being of a country, but unfortunately, many find it challenging to obtain the capital they need. It is expensive to access the public capital markets at the best of times, but in times of economic hardship and uncertainty, traditional financing options become especially scarce as well. Fortunately, private capital markets have emerged as a viable and advantageous solution for small businesses to raise the funds they need to grow, sustain jobs, and contribute to their communities.

Raising Capital is Expensive

Small businesses are often faced with tedious and expensive processes when trying to access traditional capital sources. Raising capital for companies when going public compared to private can be expensive and complicated. The costs associated with this type of fund-raising include:

Underwriting fees
Exchange listing fees to launch on the stock exchange or other public markets
Professional fees for attorneys, accountants, and other financial advisors
Printing and distribution costs for prospectus and registration statements
Costs associated with filing regulatory paperwork such as the SEC Form S-1

These costs can add up, and the process of going public is also typically long and complicated, requiring a great deal of time and energy from company founders. In addition, many banks impose strict guidelines limiting the amount of capital small business owners can borrow, and it might not be enough to cover the cost of going public. For small startups especially, the possibility of going public may be decades away, if it exists at all. For organizations that need to raise capital more immediately, the private market is a much more viable option than raising capital publicly.

The Solution: Private Capital Markets

Fortunately, private capital markets provide a viable solution for small businesses during tough economic times. With private businesses able to use JOBS Act regulations like RegA+, RegD, and RegCF to raise millions in capital from accredited and nonaccredited investors, they need not rely on traditional lenders. The cost of raising capital privately using JOBS Act regulations compared to taking a company public is significantly lower. This is because:

Although there are still securities regulations to protect investors, the reporting requirements are much lower and less costly.
Private capital markets avoid the lengthy legal process involved in taking a company public, thereby saving time and legal fees.
Private capital markets offer more flexibility than traditional financing sources, allowing businesses to craft more creative and advantageous terms for the capital they need.

This makes it easier for small businesses to access the funds they need without having to worry about high costs and long wait times. Furthermore, leveraging private capital markets provides an opportunity for small business owners to cultivate relationships with investors who can provide valuable insights and advice that they may not be able to access through traditional lenders. And that can open more doors.

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