In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal Government has quickly reacted to put funds into the economy to sustain small businesses. Some things proposed for small businesses include providing low-interest disaster business loans, emergency family and sick leave for employees, and additional funding to states for unemployment insurance.

However, there is still a gap that is not being addressed. Not all businesses have employees. Some businesses are operated by solopreneurs, who are self-employed individuals. Some business owners are home-based solopreneurs. Some business owners provide products and services that depend heavily on human contact (i.e. Consultants, Realtors, Beauty, Speakers, etc.). With the restrictions on human contact, many self-employed individuals are experiencing loss of revenue. Some business owners do not have the credit or meet the revenue requirements to obtain business loans and other forms of business credit.

We are asking the Government and states to also consider other viable options for ALL business owners, including the self-employed solopreneurs.

1. Consider allowing self-employed individuals to apply for unemployment benefits, if the need arises.

2. Consider other funding options that do not require specific credit or revenue factors. One option is that federal and state agencies could offer contracts, without competition, to self-employed individuals to maintain continuous cash flows in their businesses.

3. Set up a central commercial website where self-employed individuals can set up free profiles for their businesses. Companies, agencies, and other organizations can go to this website to find services and products needed and hire these individuals remotely.

Note: The Government could contract with a self-employed individual to create this website and contract with another self-employed individual to do the marketing and business development for the website.

Please sign this petition to show the Government that more needs to be done to sustain ALL small business owners. Please share this petition with your entire network. Thank you in advance!