Newtek Business Services, The Small Business Authority, with a portfolio of over 100,000 business accounts, announced today the findings of its SB Authority Market Sentiment Survey, a monthly window into the concerns of independent business owners. Based on a poll of over 800 respondents, one of the key findings from the December survey is that for 2014, 53% of business owners are most concerned about the effects of a weak economic environment. Of the remaining, 28% are most concerned about the Affordable Care Act, and 18% are concerned about an inability to finance their business.

The full December 2013 results showed the following:

Barry Sloane, Chairman, President and CEO of The Small Business Authority commented, "Business owners, with the employee mandate delayed, are little concerned with the Affordable Care Act in mass, except for the business owners who insured themselves and their family in the personal market. The overall health of the economy was more of a concern. It will be interesting to see the results of this poll if we run it again in July, when many business owners may have their current policies cancelled as the employee mandate approaches and the Affordable Care Act affects "substandard" pre-existing small group policies."