WELCOME | MISSION STATEMENT | BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO | LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN EMERITUS

WELCOME

Welcome to The SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce, a statewide, 10,000 member advocacy organization working to make state government more small business friendly. The Small Business Chamber is both non-partisan and non-profit. We do not endorse candidates for public office nor contribute to political campaigns. We are not affiliated with any other chamber of commerce.

Since our beginning in February of 2000, we have strived to represent the general interests of small business in state government although from time to time we do take on local and federal issues. Taxes, health insurance, workforce development, economic development, energy, utility rates, workers’ compensation insurance, and government procurement policies are some of the issues we are addressing to benefit small business.

Here are some of the successes of The S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce since it began in 2000:

• reducing the income tax on small business from 7 to 5 percent
• regulation of workers' compensation rates to reduce premiums
• job tax credits for the first time for small businesses
• $1000 tax credit for new Registered Apprentices
• opposing SCE&G electricity and gas increases at the S.C. Public Service Commission resulting in savings to residential and business customers of over $172 million since 2003
• opposing workers' compensation proposed rate increases in the Administrative Law Court resulting in saving state businesses over $185 million on premiums since 2006

Our success is due not only to our legislative and regulatory efforts in Columbia, but also because of the active participation of our members. E-mailed Newsletters, Legislative Up-Dates and Action Alerts routinely keep our members informed on issues, give detailed information about pending legislation and tell how and when to contact legislators. When our elected leaders hear from our members, they know the small business community is watching. It works.

Unlike most other chambers and trade groups, we only have one low annual dues rate for individual businesses--$199. We do this so that every small business in the state can afford to be a part of this effort. One rate for every business also insures that our position on issues is not influenced by money.

In addition to our advocacy for small business, our members receive very tangible money saving benefits for their business. Starting June 16, 2009, new dues paying members can receive at no additional cost:

1. The service of our health care solutions outreach coordinator who will help put together a plan for the business to make health care/insurance more affordable for the employer and employees;
2. Participation in our South Carolina Workers Comp Premium Recovery Project to determine if the business is owed money back from the insurance company due to overpayment of premiums;
3. A full energy audit of the business to assess how much money a business could save by using energy efficiency technologies (applicable for businesses with a minimum of $5000 a month energy bills).

Join us and you will belong to an organization that will work for the changes in government that you want for your small business and possibly save money on health care/insurance, workers comp and energy bills.

If you already belong to one of the trade associations listed here, you are already a member:

Independent Banks of SC
Injured Workers Advocates
Mechanical Contractors Association of SC
SC Association for Justice
SC Association of Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors
SC Association of Personnel and Staffing
SC Credit Union League
SC Manufacturing Extension Partnership
SC Primary Health Care Association

Contact us if you have any questions.