Your Political Involvements

As a business owner, promoting your political beliefs means you’re taking a chance—a chance that may or may not work to your advantage. Before taking a stance on an issue or deciding to endorse a candidate, know how it could affect your business.

When it comes to promoting your beliefs, there is a significant difference between supporting a candidate and supporting a particular issue. “If you are involved in issue advocacy, that’s not necessarily party affiliated,” says Charles Owens, Michigan State director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).  

But whether you support an issue or a candidate, taking a stance will bring about two benefits if done publicly: personal satisfaction for making a difference on something you care about and publicity, Owens says. The publicity could be good or bad. Either people will agree with you and go to you for business, or they might strongly disagree and take their business elsewhere.

Consider the options: the possibility of losing customers and the possibility of gaining like-minded clientele.

“For some [business owners], personal satisfaction is more important than anything else, and that’s fine,” Owens says. “When they get involved, they need to be aware that this [negative affects] will happen.”

If you want to support a candidate or an issue publicly, you must be aware of campaign laws and how easy it can be to violate them, Owens says. There are certain laws  that must be followed, and you must act accordingly, he says.

Supporting a particular candidate or current representative doesn’t always mean putting up a sign in your office or store for all to see. You can choose to show your support in ways that can keep your beliefs less apparent to the public eye.

“One of the most effective things a business owner can do is try to develop a relationship with their local state representative or senator that they vote for, based on where they live,” Owens says. You can support a local politician by going to fundraising events and donating money to his or her campaign.

If you do have established relationships with politicians, when an issue arises, like a newly proposed tax, you can call them and ask them where they stand on the issue. If you explain you are against the tax because it would hurt your business, they might take your opinion into consideration because you’ve shown past support, Owens says.

Another way to show support and keep your beliefs on the down low is by joining a business owners’ advocacy organization. Such organizations allow business owners to promote their ideas and beliefs by voting on federal and state issues, or by providing financial support for a candidate.

Note: This content is for informational purposes only. Lowe’s makes no warranties and bears no liability for use of this information. The information is not intended, and should not be construed, as legal, tax or investment advice, or a legal opinion. Always contact your legal, tax and/or financial advisors to help answer questions about your business’s specific situation or needs prior to taking any action based upon this information.