Success magazine reported that the percentage of small businesses using credit cards for financing has increased dramatically in recent years.

Year Percentage of Small Businesses Using Credit Card Financing

1993 16%
1994 26%
1995 24%
1996 24%
1997  34%
1998 47%

Obviously, credit card financing is of increasing importance to small businesses.  Therefore, if the current, quite ridiculous antitrust complaint against Visa and MasterCard proceeds (are consumers left wanting for credit card opportunities?), costs could increase, which in turn would impact many small businesses.

In addition, as Congress debates bankruptcy reform, the potential impact on entrepreneurship needs to be considered.  The main question being: Will tightening bankruptcy laws hurt risk taking?