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Small biz hit by rising costs, few plan to hire

THE ECONOMY may be in recovery mode, but small-business owners are still feeling glum about their prospects, a new poll shows.

A little over half of businesses believe the economy’s health has put them in a worse position than they were i n three years ago, according to a survey by the National Federation of Small Business and the National Association of Manufacturers.

Only 24% of the 800 small businesses and manufacturers polled said they were better off.

Rising health insurance costs, taxes and tighter regulations remain big concerns for small businesses, NFIB New York State Director Mike Durant said.

“I’m hard-pressed to come up with one area where costs are going to come down for small businesses in New York,” Durant said.

“They have a right to be worried.”

About two-thirds of the poll’s respondents say the economic environment is too uncertain for them to expand or hire.

Of t hat g roup, 68 % said recent decisions by the current administration or Congress have increased that uncertainty — although the poll didn’t specify which ones.

A large majority of business owners said they’ve had to make financial sacrifices, including canceling spending, laying off staff and using their own savings.

Given the current climate, 55% said they would not start a business today, the poll showed.

That came as a surprise, though, to Miriam Colon, acting director for the New York State Small Business Center at City Tech, who said she’s seen a steady stream of entrepreneurs looking to start new businesses or expand.

“I haven’t seen a slowdown,” said Colon, adding that the economic environment allows businesses to negotiate on rent and other costs. “Somebody's loss is another person's opportunity.”

elazarowitz@nydailynews.com