your input is valuable but only gets one vote compared to the many on this thread who are offering a completely opposite point of view.

Your examples of national businesses are not "small business owner" comparable. National companies subsidize different areas across the nation with profits from areas that do better. As a former employee of a national company I know this is certainly true.

What is your line of business that isn't impacted by wages you pay your employees and how many employees do you really have?

Frankly, if I'm objective, the other examples of admittedly "anecdotal" evidence in this thread are far more compelling than yours.