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Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the NASE? |
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The National Association for the Self-Employed is the nation's leading resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses. Since its beginning in 1981, the NASE has focused on providing a broad range of benefits to help entrepreneurs and their small businesses successfully compete in an increasingly competitive market place, and to drive the growth of this vital segment of the American economy.
The NASE supports the micro-business segment by providing access to benefits and resources that are routinely available only to larger corporations. This puts the smallest businesses on more equal footing with their corporate counterparts.
The NASE offers the self-employed access to focused resources to help their businesses succeed. Through its powerful legislative advocacy program, the organization also offers small-business owners a strong voice on Capitol Hill regarding laws and policies that affect their business. The NASE also offers a full range of benefits -- from access to legal services to investment services -- at discounted rates. |
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How does the NASE differ from other small business organizations today? |
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There are a number of resources small businesses can turn to today for help, from the SBA to online resources provided by a number of companies and publishers. However, the NASE is the only association to focus exclusively on the needs of businesses with up to ten employees or less, or "micro-businesses." With the knowledge and understanding that comes from focusing on this unique segment for two decades, the NASE can provide the most compelling support tailored to what these owners need. |
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What is the support that the NASE offers? |
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It is the most comprehensive support structure in the marketplace for micro-businesses, and it falls into four basic areas:
- Focused 'How-To' Resources. The first area includes focused 'how-to' information resources to provide micro-businesses the types of support found in larger businesses. For example, through the online resource for entrepreneurs -- www.entrepreneurialconnection.com --micro-business owners can receive tools, tips and training to help them compete more effectively, as well as education to help them develop broad success skills. Through www.nase.org, members receive a comprehensive menu of other resources, from free online tax counsel and financial tips to access to the organization's bi-monthly magazine Self-Employed America. The NASE's toll-free ShopTalk 800 business advice line enables members to secure help on issues ranging from how to purchase a computer to understanding government regulations.
- Value-Added Benefits. The second area is a full menu of high-value benefits, including professional services - such as legal services, retirement and investment planning and payroll services - at discounted fees and rates. Through the organization's consolidated buying power, NASE members receive significant savings on thousands of office products and services, including long-distance, printing and office supplies. Members also receive discounts on travel services, including rental car fees, hotel and transportation. Access to a variety of health insurance plans also is offered, including major medical, prescription drug, as well as dental and vision plans.
- Legislative Advocacy. The third area of support is legislative advocacy. Through this outreach initiative, the NASE gives the self-employed a powerful voice on federal legislation affecting small business. Key legislative priorities include:
- Tax Equality for Small Business
- Independent Contractor Definition
- Health Insurance Tax Credits
- Small Business Health Plans
- Social Security Reform
- Retirement Security
- Equality in Insurance Plans
- Federal Small Business Programs
- Scholarship Program. In addition, the NASE's Scholarship Program provides annual financial scholarships to children and dependents of association members. The program is the largest scholarship in the nation devoted to the promotion of entrepreneurship among young people. This year, the program will reach a total of $1 million in scholarships that have been awarded to more than 400 students since its launch in 1989.
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Who governs the NASE? |
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The strategies and activities of the NASE are overseen and closely managed by a eight-member Board of Directors. The Board consists of small-business owners representing a cross-section of micro-businesses, from publishing and agribusiness to accounting and travel services. Board members are intensely hands-on in the association's business planning and practices. The NASE doesn't simply represent micro-business; it is micro-business. |
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How many members does the NASE have? |
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Currently, the NASE has approximately 250,000 members. |
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What are the key issues for micro-businesses today? |
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They are complex issues, but most boil down to: how to manage for success. (And this is no small issue, especially for the tens of thousands of people starting their own businesses now in the midst of the recession, corporate layoffs, etc.) Managing for success covers finding new ways to take expenses out of the enterprise . . . securing good health insurance to protect business owners . . . having access to solid financial and retirement planning . . . understanding important tax issues . . . and making sure the laws give small business fair treatment in areas from taxes to retirement and employment laws.
Beyond these factors, a key issue for micro-businesses is how to tap into technology to enhance and transform business processes and strengthen customer relationships.
Finally, especially with so many former corporate people starting up businesses of their own, a huge issue is simply getting a handle on the basics of how to start a business, from space planning to legal advice.
As the key resource for micro-businesses in America, the NASE is very focused on addressing each of these issues. |
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What is the typical profile of NASE membership? |
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NASE membership is as varied as the self-employed community itself. But during the association's history, the organization has seen a shift to include more service- and information-based businesses. This shift is reflective of trends in the broader economy. Over time, there also has been a trend toward younger workers entering self-employment, which is a domain that tended to belong more to older workers (who had built up enough capital to go into business for themselves). |
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What are the most important legislative issues for micro-businesses? |
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This year, the NASE's primary legislative focus includes:
Tax Equality for Small Business. The NASE is a committed advocate for the simplification of the tax process for small businesses. The NASE strongly believes that tax relief and simplification is absolutely necessary for small-business success. Therefore, any tax relief must include favorable provisions for the self-employed and micro-businesses. The NASE will focus on these key issues:
Increased Deduction for Business Meals. An increase in the business meals deduction is essential to the success of the self-employed. NASE members rely on business meals as a primary means to promote their products and services rather than investing in media advertising. In addition, independent sales representatives are constantly on the road promoting their products.
Increased Deductible for Business Equipment. The NASE also supports the increase of the deductible for business equipment expenses to at least $30,000. Business equipment is essential to the startup and continued efficiency and success of a small business. Also, many small businesses prefer to take a deduction rather than depreciate the cost over several years.
Independent Contractor Definition. The NASE continues to push for clarification of the definition for independent contractor status for tax purposes so that small businesses and the self-employed can easily understand who is an employee and who is an independent contractor.
Health Insurance Tax Credits. The NASE supports tax credits to cover the health insurance costs of small businesses and the self-employed so that businesses of all sizes receive a more equitable tax treatment for these costs. The NASE would like to see 100 percent deductibility for the self-employed achieved this legislative session.
Association Health Plans. The NASE supports association health plans and legislation to improve access to and choices for medical care among the self-employed, small businesses and their employees. Currently, an employee in a firm with less than 10 employees pays 18 percent more for health insurance than a worker in a firm with 200 or more employees. Alarmingly, healthcare costs are continuing to rise for small businesses.
Social Security Reform. The NASE has six key principles regarding Social Security Reform:- Oppose any further payroll tax increases or tax inequities for the self-employed
- Avoid any reduction in promised benefits to current and near retirees
- Maintain a "minimum benefit" safety net for all retirees
- Reduce huge, unfunded liabilities of the Social Security Reform system
- Permit a portion of Social Security taxes to be allocated to personal retirement accounts that workers would own and control themselves
- Make the Social Security system more financially sound for the long term by pre-funding its obligations rather than relying on ever-increasing taxes
Retirement Security. The NASE proposes new initiatives for personal savings and new small business pension plans that are simpler and more financially attractive.
Equity in Insurance Plans. The NASE seeks legislation that would give small businesses the freedom to tailor health insurance policies to their needs rather than requiring them (by law) to buy policies with unnecessary and expensive "add-ons." Big businesses have long had this freedom to buy only the health insurance they want and need.
Tax-Free Internet. The NASE wants to encourage the development of e-commerce by keeping the Internet and telecommunications as tax-free as possible.
Federal Small Business Programs. The NASE is a fervent supporter of federal small business programs that have a proven track record of efficiently aiding micro-businesses. These programs include the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Advocacy and the Microloan Program. The NASE feels that the approximate 40 percent cut to the SBA's budget -- particularly cuts in the SBA Microloan Program -- will negatively affect small business. The NASE would like to see monies re-appropriated to the Microloan Program and the SBA Office of Advocacy strengthened. |
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