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<onlyinclude>One of the most highly publicized criticisms of the Patient Protection and [[Affordable Care Act]] by the media and the bill’s adversaries is concerned with this idea that “Obamacare” will kill [[Small Business]]. While the ACA is indeed not entirely benign for small businesses, the actual harm of Obamacare regulations and mandates to small businesses, however, depends entirely on what we consider a small business, as the effect of Obamacare on small businesses varies vastly between firms with differences composition and size in their workforces (i.e. number of full time employees, average wages, state where the business is operated). While the cost of providing health care insurance has assuredly risen, there is evidence that health insurance premiums have been on the rise for many years [http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-small-business/]. The most obvious tangible and visible effect of Obamacare on small businesses is not necessarily in abandonment of plans to grow a business or death of businesses themselves, but, rather, in a slowing or decrease in hiring and cutting employee hours. </onlyinclude>

The United States has almost 6 million small businesses, and 90% of these businesses employ fewer than 20 people [http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-small-business/]. And for the most part, there is not much evidence the provisions of the ACA are devastating these small businesses and startups with fewer than 50 full time equivalent employees.