Small Business Owners Want Improvements in Education and Affordable Healthcare; Top Concerns Ahead of Tax Cuts and Reductions in Regulatory Burdens.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 16, 2000

American Express Small Business Services Announces Poll Results

and TV Ads Featuring Small Business Owners Speaking Out

"Voices from Main Street" Program To Shine

Spotlight on National Economic Engine

Keeping America's work force competitive and healthy are the top two issues small business owners face, according to the first national "Voices from Main Street" poll conducted for American Express Small Business Services.

When 1,100 small business owners were asked to cite those issues that are "very important" to them, they responded:

1.  Improving schools/training young people for work 82 %
2.  Affordable healthcare for employees              77 %
3.  Affordable healthcare for business owners        76 %
4.  Tax cuts/tax reform                              74 %
5.  Reducing government regulations and paperwork    72 %
6.  Interest rates                                   68 %
7.  Crime                                            64 %
8.  Reducing the budget deficit                      61 %
9.  Reducing estate ("death") taxes                  58 %
TIE 10. Reducing social security/payroll taxes       54 %
TIE 10. Internet Security                            54 %

According to the poll, small business owners believe their voices count more with local candidates than with those running for national office. When asked if the issues that concern them receive enough attention and support from presidential candidates, 68 percent of the small business owners polled said no. Sixty percent of the respondents also said congressional candidates do not pay an appropriate amount of attention to their issues. More than half (52 percent) of small business owners polled said their issues receive sufficient attention from candidates for state and local office.

"Our `Voices from Main Street' program is designed to help small business owners raise their issues to a national audience," said Steve Alesio, President, American Express Small Business Services. "This country was built on the innovation and perseverance of entrepreneurs and their small businesses. We need to pay attention to this key economic engine and address the issues they face."

According to government and private research(a) small businesses:

-- a series of television commercials featuring small business owners speaking
from their places of business about the issues most important to them;

-- national opinion polls to take the pulse of entrepreneurs on important
issues;

-- a print advertising campaign encouraging business owners to speak out;

-- a web site (hosted at www.americanexpress.com) where small business owners
can discuss issues, chat with their peers and industry leaders and obtain
relevant information on the issues;

-- a nationally broadcast "town hall" dedicated to small business owners;

-- regional forums for small business owners to meet with their peers and
engage in these discussions on a local level.

"Voices from Main Street" TV Ads Let Cleveland Business Owners Speak Out

American Express also launched the second of a series of 30-second television ads. The commercials launched this week feature three business owners from Cleveland. Ben Williams Sr., owner of Ben's Auto Body Specialists, and Jock Thompson, of Thompson Builders Inc., who spoke out about complying with regulations and filling out forms. Adele Ryan Malley, owner of Malley's Chocolates, similarly called for simplifying the regulations that effect her business.

The small business owners featured in the 30-second commercials are members of National Small Business United (NSBU) and the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) in Cleveland, Ohio. The ad was shot on various locations in and around Cleveland last week.

NSBU President Todd McCracken hailed the American Express endeavor and the inclusion of NSBU members in the commercial. "'Voices from Main Street' is a watershed event for small business in America. NSBU has been working on behalf of small businesses for 63 years and we have never witnessed this level of commitment by a major corporation to help small businesses find their voice," McCracken said.

American Express Small Business Services last week launched "Voices from Main Street, a multi-million dollar communications program to engage small business owners in a national dialogue about the issues that matter to them most and shine a spotlight on those concerns. The year-long "Voices From Main Street" program includes:

-- a series of television commercials featuring small business owners speaking
from their places of business about the issues most important to them;

-- national opinion polls to take the pulse of entrepreneurs on important
issues;

-- a print advertising campaign encouraging business owners to speak out;

-- a web site (hosted at www.americanexpress.com) where small business owners
can discuss issues, chat with their peers and industry leaders and obtain
relevant information on the issues;

-- a nationally broadcast "town hall" dedicated to small business owners;

-- regional forums for small business owners to meet with their peers and
engage in these discussions on a local level.

The American Express "Voices from Main Street" poll surveyed 1,122 small business owners from February 28 to March 8. The businesses polled averaged 8.3 employees and $440,000 in annual revenues. The survey had a plus/minus margin of error of 2.9 percentage points.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The "Voices from Main Street" poll results can be broken down by region of the country (Northeast, South, Midwest and West), age, gender and political affiliation of the business owner. To request a complete copy of the survey results, call 212-640-4868 or e-mail richard.d'[e-mail].

American Express Small Business Services is a unit of American Express Travel

Related Services Company, Inc. solely dedicated to serving companies with fewer than 100 employees. Small Business Services provides a broad range of financial services, including charge and credit cards, equipment financing, lines of credit and tax and business advisory services. To obtain more information about the Small Business Services group, visit the Small Business Exchange at www.americanexpress.com/smallbusiness.

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.

(a) Bureau of the Census, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Internal Revenue Service, Cognetics, Inc., U.S. Dept. of Labor, Dun and Bradstreet Corporation, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy.