Cost of doing business remains concern

Business owners have gained confidence about the economy and their companies, according to a new SunTrust Banks survey, but challenges still loom.

“Many businesses are expressing increased confidence with capital investment, hiring and expansion plans,” SunTrust commercial and business banking executive Tom Kuntz says in a release.

But those challenges, says SunTrust, are the fearsome foursome that scares nearly every entrepreneur: an increase in operating costs, which 52% of survey respondents consider a top challenge; new or evolving government regulation, which 38% worry about; delayed payments from customers, cited by 36% of business owners; and changes to benefits, cited by 35%.