Small business owners on Staten Island got the chance to voice their thoughts Monday about what the government can do to help them succeed. NY1's Lindsay Tuchman filed the following report.
Vivian Vassar runs a small business on Staten Island, selling vintage clothing.
She said she likes what she does, but intensely dislikes the cumbersome New York sales tax bookkeeping.
"The sales tax structure is difficult in New York,” she said. “As a small business."
Solomon Chemo, owner of small business Richmond Wealth Management, said high tax rates hurt his company.
"On a personal and business level seem to be obviously too high,” he said. “And I understand the taxes are used to pay costs, infrastructure costs that the city needs and requires but I think it hurts small businesses."
Vassar, Chemo and several others voiced their concerns at a small business roundtable Monday organized by Republican Congressman Dan Donovan at his New Dorp office.
"Businesses are hurt by our tax code and so we're trying to reform our tax code, make it up to date and make sure that it's helping people rather than harming them, particularly small businesses,” Donovan said.
Another concern some had is with proposed federal legislation that would allow states to tax all out of state internet transactions.
"Collecting taxes and paying taxes to other states can potentially be problematic for small businesses like ours beyond the everyday challenges of acquiring new shoppers or reaching potential shoppers and getting your product and offering out there to the world,” Richmond Hood Company owner Tariq Zaid said.
Many of these business owners acknowledge that getting their problems solved may not be a quick or easy process.
"I'm remaining hopeful,” Hypno-Tronic Comics owner Ed Varuolo said. “But you know what they say, hope for the best, prepare for the worst."
Donovan said he plans to take into consideration the ideas of these and other constituents who think business is more taxing than it needs to be.