Some small businesses in the Valley are preparing to raise prices, cut staff and possibly even shut down. That's if president Obama's health care law lives on.
A month from today, we will know who our next president is. With that certainty, comes much uncertainty, especially for small business owners who don't know how current laws will effect them in the future. If president Obama gets re-elected, the health care bill that he championed will most likely stay in place. That means, besides other regulations, businesses with 50 or more full time employees would have to offer health insurance.
For some very small businesses, this law will change nothing. But for some, it could mean the difference between staying open or closing down.
It's hard enough being a small business.
Owner of Santa Lucia, Maria Wilson, says, "It's hands on. You basically live in your business."
But if the new health care law goes through, Wilson says her bottom line will suffer.
"Scared. It will definitely change the way things are," says Wilson.
Santa Lucia stores typically have over 50 employees. On her end, Wilson would have to pay, on average, $125 a month to give each person health insurance, adding a huge cost. To make up for it, Wilson says she'll have to cut staff.
"It's just a tough situation, but it will definitely change the way small business owners run their business," says Wilson.
Many of the businesses we talked to agree, saying this, is where you'll have make up for the change.
"I think dining out will become a luxury once again," says Wilson.
Many say prices would go up, just so they could stay open.
"I kind of think it almost takes away from our motto, the land of the free. We're already regulated in a lot of ways already. It will just add to that," says Wilson.
We also spoke with the owner of Mexican Village. He says he was looking at a couple different locations to add stores. If Obama's healthcare law stays in place, he says he wouldn't be able to afford it.
Other business owners we talked to today say they're also considering getting rid of most full time positions and only offering part time jobs.
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