New Guide Helps Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Understand How Raising the State̢??‰?s Minimum Wage Would Impact their Business, Local Economy

Small Business Majority released an online guide today to help Wisconsin small employers understand how efforts to raise the state̢??‰?s minimum wage would impact their businesses, and the state̢??‰?s economy on the whole. Businesses will be able to use the website to send comments directly to lawmakers to show them how real entrepreneurs feel about this issue.

There are currently campaigns underway to increase the state minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Research shows a majority of small business owners support raising the federal minimum wage to that level. Small Business Majority̢??‰?s scientific opinion poll shows 57 percent of small business owners support increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour and adjusting it annually to the cost of living. And more than half believe increasing minimum wage will boost consumer demand for small business, helping them grow and hire. Small business support has been picking up steam ̢??‰?? more recent polls show results ranging from????61 percent to two-thirds of small business owners support increasing the minimum wage, and even a poll of all employer sizes, including small businesses, found growing support within the business community for raising the minimum wage.

̢???Raising the minimum wage would give people more money to spend in our community,̢???? said Suzanne Johnson, owner of Red Mug Espresso, Inc in Superior. ̢???This can only help small businesses like mine and the local economy.̢????

Small business owners support raising the minimum wage because they believe paying employees a livable wage is an integral step in boosting the earnings of working families, creating new jobs and spurring economic growth. According to the Public Affairs Council, 68 percent of Americans say they prefer to shop at local small businesses. Raising the minimum wage would not only be good for workers, but it would give hard-working Americans more money to spend at local small businesses, which helps them create jobs and strengthen their local economies.

̢???A vast majority of small businesses already pay their workers more than the minimum wage. Many small employers feel it̢??‰?s the right thing to do,̢???? said Jesse Greenberg, Director of Midwest & West for Small Business Majority. ̢???We also know small business owners' number one concern is consumer demand. This directly tackles the problem by giving consumers the resources they need to shop at local small businesses in the community. It̢??‰?s a win-win for business.̢????

For more information about how minimum wage affects small business, please visit: www.wagefacts-wi.com.