Empowering Family-Owned Businesses Through Advocacy
Join us in championing the vital role of family-owned businesses in shaping fair tax and economic policies.
Advocacy Frequently Asked Questions
What Is family-owned business advocacy?
Family-owned business advocacy is when families of family-owned businesses directly reach out to their elected representatives to communicate their needs, challenges, and issues affecting their business. Advocacy may take the form or written communication, such as emails, texts, or letters, questions at town hall meetings, in-person meetings with staff, or in direct meetings on Capitol Hill.
Why do family-owned companies to need to advocate?
Elected lawmakers at the state and federal level listen to the business leaders within their districts. If family-owned business leaders do not speak up on the critical tax and economic issues affecting them, the elected representatives will not be educated on their needs and therefore will likely not create policies positive to their business.
Why do family-owned businesses struggle with advocacy on the federal or state level?
Family businesses are busy keeping their businesses growing, their customers and employees happy, and investing in the community. Advocating for critical economic and tax issues, such as wealth taxes, with lawmakers is often “left to others,” or is considered out their control. It is not. Advocacy should be considered an essential part of business, much like marketing or community affairs.
How can advocacy support family businesses?
Advocacy can help family-owned businesses understand complex estate tax reform debates, wealth taxes, evaluate elected officials, and engage effectively in federal and state policy discussions. Successful advocacy can sway lawmakers to make the right decisions that help family businesses grow and transition to the next generation, while avoiding negative policies that will damage the business in the future.
Can legislative outreach really help family-owned business?
Family-owned businesses are helped by strong advocacy outreach, in many cases saving the families millions of dollars, or saving the business from sale. With each election cycle new tax and economic policies, like wealth taxes, are proposed by lawmakers. Advocacy educates lawmakers on the damage such negative policies have on family businesses. This is only done through strong outreach by the families of family-owned businesses.
When do family-owned businesses advocate most?
Family business advocacy increases the most when new, proposed laws threaten the savings, assets, or growth of the family and their business. Events triggering advocacy needs are typically increased estate taxes, savings penalty taxes, wealth taxes, taxes on assets, equipment, or employees, and succession-related tax risk. The increase in momentum for wealth taxes is also a key triggering event.
The Importance of Advocacy for Family Businesses
Advocacy is crucial for family-owned businesses and hardworking families as it ensures their voices are heard in legislative processes that affect their operations. By actively engaging in advocacy, these businesses can influence tax and economic policies that directly impact their growth and sustainability. Family Enterprise USA is dedicated to empowering these family-owned businesses to communicate their needs to lawmakers, ensuring policies are crafted to support their unique challenges and contributions to the economy.
Join the Advocacy Movement
Take a stand for your family’s future by engaging in advocacy efforts today. Reach out to your elected representatives and make your voice heard on the critical tax and economic issues impacting family-owned businesses and hardworking families. Together, we can influence positive change and ensure a prosperous future for generations to come.