Digger: Just a question, how many of you here actually own and/or run your own business? How many of you have to write those paychecks each month? How many of your livliehoods depend on the success or failure of your businesses? My store (that I am officially now 25% partner in and do all the aforementioned tasks, including payroll) had to eat the $0.48 cent an hour raise in minimum wage. This went across three employees. Take this fact - it takes 80 “man hours” to run my store outside of my 40 hours. At 48 cents an hour, that MW wage increase is costing my store an extra $38.40 per week. That might not seem like a whole lot but then add my portion of the FICA contribution, unemployment insurance, workers comp and all the other fees Washington tacks on to business owners and we've started eating away at our already slim profit margin. Full post below.

Question: Do you agree with the point Digger makes -- that minimum wage increases hurt small businesses?