One-quarter of small-business borrowers anticipate needing additional help
By Oregon NFIB,
As applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans slow, the nation’s leading small-business association today released the results of a comprehensive survey of its members about how these loans are being used, the effect they’re having, and challenges owners face in maximizing loan forgiveness.
“The survey shows that small business owners are still experiencing high levels of uncertainty,” said Anthony Smith, Oregon state director for NFIB, which sampled a cross-section of its 300,000 members on May 18. “Each individual business is different – and so are their challenges right now. Most of our members have successfully received federal assistance, but whether they can comply with all the terms and conditions required to have those loans forgiven is another matter. They need their employees to come back in order to spend the money on payroll – and they need customers to come back to become profitable again. If those things don’t happen, and without congressional action to increase flexibility in the federal programs, they may need additional financial support just to hang on a little longer.”
From Holly Wade, NFIB Director of Research and Policy Analysis
“Small businesses continue to face many challenges in operating their business in these difficult times. Congress and the Administration have the authority to further lighten the burden for many of their immediate concerns, especially in offering more flexibility for PPP loans.”
According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Small Business Administration, as of May 16, 55,882 Oregon businesses have been approved for PPP loans worth a total value of $6,835,721,738. The NFIB poll released today, which is not broken down by state, found 54% of its members expecting 100 percent of the loan to be forgiven after the eight-week forgiveness period. The SBA posted its loan forgiveness application May 15.
Other highlights from the poll show:
• “The 75% payroll rule is difficult for 38% of small business borrowers to manage as 14% find it very difficult and 24% find it somewhat difficult.”
• “Almost one-quarter of those who have taken out one or both loans [PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)] anticipate they will need additional support and another 54% do not know yet. Only 20% of borrowers do not anticipate needing additional support.”
• “One-quarter of small business owners report that business operations are severely negatively impacted by the crisis. Thirty-three percent of small business owners report the crisis has significantly impacted their business and another 34% report a somewhat negative impact on business operation. Just 6% have not been impacted and 3% have been positively impacted.”
Click here to read the full report, which includes bar graphs on ‘When Borrowers Received PPP Loan,’ ‘Complying with PPP Loan Terms and Conditions,’ and a pie chart on ‘Percent of PPP Loan Expenses Expected to be Forgiven.’
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