The 6 Hot-Button Issues Business Owners Want to Hear Trump and Harris Debate

Goldman Sachs wants next week’s presidential debate to lend small businesses more of the limelight. 

The investment bank’s small business advocacy program, known as 10,000 Small Businesses Voices, plastered a billboard in Times Square earlier this week that called on ABC, the TV network moderating Tuesday’s presidential debate, to make “small businesses a part of the debate.”

While small business owners employ almost half of the country’s workers, they rarely get much air time during presidential debates. Goldman’s small business advocacy division, and the entrepreneurs within it, want to change that. 

“Given the importance the economy will play in this election, we believe candidates for president need to be asked to provide more detail on their proposals to support Main Street,” Jessica Johnson-Cope, the president of a family-owned security business, Johnson Security Bureau, said in a statement. The company is among the 10,000 small business voices community. 

In a memo sent to ABC News, the leadership council of Goldman’s small business advocacy division highlighted six core areas that Harris and Trump should hit on during the debate that are relevant to the nation’s entrepreneurs. 

Business growth: The chief priority? Having the candidates spell out specific policies that would support small businesses in today’s economic environment, and help spur entrepreneurship. Good news for entrepreneurs, the candidates are starting to heed their wishes. Ahead of Tuesday’s debate, Harris teased a new idea: A $50,000 tax credit aimed at spurring new entrepreneurship.

Capital access: The next priority outlined homes in on another classic challenge most entrepreneurs struggle with: access to capital. So business owners want to know how Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will work to make it easier for entrepreneurs to tap into affordable loans and lines of credit.

Child care: The nation’s child care crisis is yet another area that small businesses argue deserves more air time. (It did bubble up during the debate between Trump and President Joe Biden in late June, but Tuesday will give Harris an opportunity to air her ideas.) Past research has shown that the lack of affordable child care is stunting small business growth, so entrepreneurs are hoping to see how the candidates will prioritize access to child care. 

Inflation: The high costs of goods and services have made today’s economic environment a tougher one for entrepreneurs to operate in. So business owners are curious how the candidates will make it easier for them to succeed in a time where sticky inflation and high operating costs persist.

Labor shortages: The memo further addresses the nation’s labor shortages and urges the candidates to address how they’d help small business owners with workforce development and upskilling.

Artificial intelligence: Rounding out the memo is AI–specifically how the candidates would approach the technology in a way that ensures that “small businesses’ voices don’t get left behind in the implementation.” While AI is ascribed incredible potential in transforming business, many business owners and workers are concerned about worker displacement en masse if AI automates everyday jobs.

Tuesday’s presidential debate is a pivotal moment with less than two months to Election Day. Since Harris has announced her candidacy, she’s rode out a wave of momentum–but has yet to clearly outline her platform’s key policies. Trump also has an opportunity to attempt and make up for lost ground within the polls.