Legislation that sits in the House and Ways and Means Committee would offer relief at the end of the state fiscal year for taxpayers who collect sales taxes. Currently, taxpayers who collect sales and use taxes — which encompasses almost all of the state’s small businesses — are allowed to remit them to the state [...] [...]
There are a lot of news stories and much campaign rhetoric about the challenges confronting small businesses everywhere. The Mississippi Business Journal asked Ron Aldridge, state director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), to address the leading issues facing the state’s small business owners. He says for the first time in almost four [...] [...]
A recent study by the Institute for Justice confirmed what small business advocate Ron Aldridge already knew: Mississippi’s licensing requirements for low- and middle-income occupations are excessive. The IJ report, released in May, reveals that Mississippi has what it calls “barriers of entry” for 55 of 102 low- and middle-income occupations examined. Four states license [...] [...]
Eminent domain remains a hotbed of discussion in the Mississippi business community. MBJ staff writers Ted Carter and Stephen McDill interview NFIB state director Ron Aldridge and Parkway Properties chairman and interim MDA director Leland Speed. PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 [...]
Small businesses receiving loans from Mississippi’s planning and development districts could possibly see their interest rates lowered under a bill that cleared the Senate last week. Senate Bill 2954 would delete the requirement that PDDs charge a minimum 5 percent interest rate on loans they make to small businesses in their service areas. Instead, the [...] [...]

When the 2011 Mississippi Legislature convenes Jan. 4, registered lobbyists will be on hand to make their clients’ issues known to representatives and senators. Hayes Dent of Yazoo City says it’s clear to all observers that the state’s budget will be the key issue in this session. “There are two separate and distinct philosophical views [...] [...]

Crucial final weeks before Christmas will tell the tale of potential success for retail business in 2010 The last weeks of the year are crucial for retailers who look to the holiday shopping season to improve the year’s bottom line. Like their national counterparts, Mississippi business owners welcome this time of year. “We’re cautiously optimistic,” [...] [...]