National Federation of Independent Business

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is a United States nonprofit association representing the interests of independent and small-business owners. Founded in 1943, it describes itself as nonpartisan and focuses on public-policy advocacy, legal action, member information, and practical guidance for small businesses. Its headquarters are in Nashville, Tennessee, and it maintains offices in Washington, D.C., and the capitals of all 50 states. NFIB's work covers legislation, taxation, regulation, employment requirements, health care, environmental policy, workplace safety, and other issues that it considers material to the operating conditions of smaller firms. In addition to lobbying, it provides members with information and guidance concerning management, operations, marketing, legal questions, and health-care matters. The organization also publishes research on small-business sentiment and operates a podcast addressing issues affecting business owners. The federation is particularly associated with conservative and pro-business policy positions, although its formal description emphasizes representation of small businesses rather than affiliation with a political party. Its advocacy has included criticism of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, opposition to selected federal disclosure and consumer-protection rules, and support for tax provisions intended to help smaller companies make investments and plan their finances. NFIB also presents legislative voting records and gives its Guardian of Small Business Award to lawmakers whose voting records align with positions identified by the organization as important to small-business owners. NFIB has been involved in several high-profile legal and political disputes. In 2010 it became the lead organizational plaintiff in litigation challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The case, National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012; the Court upheld most of the law's provisions. In 2021, NFIB successfully challenged the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's emergency COVID-19 vaccination-or-testing standard for large employers. The Supreme Court blocked the rule, after which OSHA withdrew it. More recently, NFIB has challenged or opposed federal initiatives involving subscription cancellation procedures, beneficial-ownership reporting, noncompete agreements, and other regulatory requirements. In October 2024, it joined the Michigan Press Association in a lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission's so-called click-to-cancel rule. NFIB has also litigated against enforcement of beneficial-ownership disclosure requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act and filed an amicus brief supporting a challenge to the FTC's rule restricting noncompete agreements. Its legal and legislative activity makes it both a membership organization and an active participant in U.S. public-policy debates. The organization reports that its membership is composed of small-business owners and that its policy agenda is informed by member surveys and voting records. Publicly reported political giving has favored Republican candidates and party committees by a wide margin since 1990, despite NFIB's stated nonpartisan status. In fiscal year 2022, NFIB reported total revenue of $105,848,770. Its public-facing role combines representation, policy advocacy, litigation, research, and business education for independent firms operating in the United States.

The National Federation of Independent Business was established in 1943 as a nonprofit organization intended to represent independent and small-business owners in the United States. Its institutional purpose has been to give smaller firms a collective voice in public policy, particularly where federal or state decisions affect taxation, regulation, employment practices, health care, and the cost of operating a business. NFIB describes itself as nonpartisan, although its policy positions and political activity have generally aligned more closely with conservative and pro-business priorities than with those of organized labor or consumer-advocacy groups. Over time, NFIB developed a national advocacy structure with a headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, a Washington, D.C., presence, and offices in all 50 state capitals. This structure allows it to combine federal lobbying with state-level legislative work. The organization also offers practical information to members on management, operations, marketing, legal issues, and health care. Its research activity includes surveys and measures of small-business confidence, hiring conditions, inflation concerns, and other operating pressures. NFIB became especially visible in national health-care politics during the administration of President Bill Clinton. The organization was a prominent opponent of the administration's 1993 health-care reform effort. Nearly two decades later, it became the lead organizational plaintiff in litigation challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. The case, National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, reached the Supreme Court in 2012. The Court upheld most of the law, making the case one of the most significant legal episodes in NFIB's history. The litigation also attracted outside financial support; the conservative Crossroads GPS PAC provided $3.7 million to help fund the court challenge. NFIB has continued to use litigation and administrative advocacy alongside conventional lobbying. In 2021, it challenged OSHA's emergency COVID-19 vaccination-or-testing standard for large employers. The Supreme Court blocked the standard, and OSHA withdrew it. NFIB has also criticized OSHA and the Environmental Protection Agency over regulatory policies it views as burdensome for smaller businesses. On taxation, the organization supported the 2014 America's Small Business Tax Relief Act, which sought to make expanded Section 179 expensing provisions permanent. NFIB argued that more predictable tax treatment would help firms plan, invest, and hire. The federation's political engagement includes legislative scorecards and recognition programs. Its Guardian of Small Business Award is given to lawmakers whose voting records are considered consistently supportive of positions identified by small-business owners. NFIB has also taken positions on judicial appointments, including support for Neil Gorsuch's confirmation to the Supreme Court in 2017. Publicly reported political contributions since 1990 have favored Republican candidates and party committees by a substantial margin, even though the organization presents itself as nonpartisan. In the 2020s, NFIB's agenda expanded into challenges involving federal administrative rules and corporate compliance requirements. It opposed the FTC's click-to-cancel rule, which would make subscription cancellation as easy as enrollment and impose additional consent requirements. In October 2024, NFIB and the Michigan Press Association sued to block implementation of that rule. NFIB also challenged beneficial-ownership reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act and filed an amicus brief supporting litigation against the FTC's noncompete rule. It separately brought a legal challenge concerning Missouri Proposition A. NFIB remains an active U.S. small-business membership and advocacy organization. Its current public role combines representation before legislatures and agencies, strategic litigation, research, business guidance, media communications, and recognition of supportive policymakers. In fiscal year 2022, it reported total revenue of $105,848,770. The organization continues to frame inflation, labor availability, regulatory compliance, taxation, and health-care costs as central concerns for independent businesses.

• 2024

  New regulatory and legal challenges

  [1]National Federation of Independent Businessen.wikipedia.org

  NFIB pursues or supports challenges concerning the FTC click-to-cancel rule, beneficial-ownership reporting, noncompete restrictions, and Missouri Proposition A.

• 2023

  Small-business optimism declines slightly

  [1]National Federation of Independent Businessen.wikipedia.org

  NFIB reports a modest decline in small-business optimism associated with inflation and staffing concerns.

• 2022

  Fiscal-year revenue reported

  [1]National Federation of Independent Businessen.wikipedia.org

  NFIB reports total revenue of $105,848,770 for fiscal year 2022.

• 2021

  OSHA COVID-19 standard is blocked

  [1]National Federation of Independent Businessen.wikipedia.org

  NFIB's challenge contributes to the Supreme Court's blocking of OSHA's emergency vaccination-or-testing standard for large employers.

• 2017

  Support for Neil Gorsuch

  [1]National Federation of Independent Businessen.wikipedia.org

  NFIB endorses the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court.

• 2014

  Support for expanded Section 179 deductions

  [1]National Federation of Independent Businessen.wikipedia.org

  NFIB supports legislation seeking to make increased Section 179 small-business expensing limits permanent.

• 2012

  Supreme Court decides NFIB v. Sebelius

  [1]National Federation of Independent Businessen.wikipedia.org

  The Supreme Court upholds most provisions of the Affordable Care Act after NFIB's constitutional challenge.

• 2010

  ACA constitutional challenge begins

  [1]National Federation of Independent Businessen.wikipedia.org

  NFIB becomes the lead organizational plaintiff in litigation challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.

• 1993

  Opposition to Clinton health-care reform

  [1]National Federation of Independent Businessen.wikipedia.org

  NFIB becomes a prominent opponent of President Bill Clinton's proposed health-care reform effort.

• 1943

  NFIB is founded

  [1]National Federation of Independent Businessen.wikipedia.org

  The National Federation of Independent Business is established as a nonprofit organization representing independent and small businesses in the United States.

A membership-based, nonprofit small-business advocacy organization focused on reducing regulatory and tax burdens and representing independent firms in legislative, administrative, and judicial proceedings.

• Advocacy service · 1943

  Policy advocacy and representation

  NFIB represents small-business interests before Congress, federal agencies, state legislatures, and courts. Its agenda includes taxes, employment rules, health care, environmental regulation, workplace safety, corporate reporting, consumer rules, and other matters that may affect independent firms.

• Business research

  NFIB Research

  The organization surveys and reports on small-business conditions, including optimism, inflation, hiring, staffing availability, and other operating concerns. These findings support NFIB's public advocacy and provide members and policymakers with information about smaller firms.

• Professional information service

  Small-business guidance

  NFIB provides members with information and guidance on management, operations, marketing, legal issues, regulatory developments, and health care. The material is intended to help owners understand operating requirements and respond to policy changes.

• Legislative recognition program

  Guardian of Small Business Award

  NFIB's Guardian of Small Business Award recognizes legislators whose voting records are considered consistently supportive of positions identified by small-business owners as important. It is part of the federation's broader legislative scorecard and advocacy activity.

• Media and educational content

  NFIB podcast

  NFIB hosts a podcast addressing issues and concerns affecting small-business owners. It functions as a communications and educational channel alongside the organization's written guidance and research.

• Guardian of Small Business Award

  United States

  NFIB recognizes lawmakers who vote consistently with positions that the organization identifies as important to small-business owners.

  Outcome. The award remains an ongoing component of NFIB's legislative advocacy and public recognition work.

  Source

• 2024

  Challenge to the FTC click-to-cancel ruleStrategy

  Background

  NFIB opposed FTC revisions that would require businesses to make subscription, renewal, and converted-trial cancellations as easy as the original sign-up process.

  Action taken

  NFIB joined the Michigan Press Association in suing to block the rule and also objected to its consent-documentation requirements.

  Source

• 2024

  Challenge to beneficial-ownership reporting rulesStrategy

  Background

  NFIB opposed requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act that covered companies disclose their beneficial owners.

  Action taken

  The federation sued to stop the federal government from enforcing the reporting requirements.

  Source

• 2024

  Support for challenge to FTC noncompete ruleStrategy

  Background

  NFIB considered the FTC's final rule restricting noncompete agreements relevant to small-business operations and employment practices.

  Action taken

  It filed an amicus brief in Ryan, LLC v. Federal Trade Commission supporting a challenge to the rule.

  Source

• 2021

  Challenge to OSHA COVID-19 vaccination-or-testing standardStrategy

  Background

  NFIB opposed OSHA's emergency standard requiring large employers to implement vaccination or testing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Action taken

  NFIB brought a legal challenge that reached the Supreme Court.

  Aftermath

  The Supreme Court blocked the standard, and OSHA withdrew it.

  Source

• 2017

  Endorsement of Neil GorsuchOther

  Background

  The Supreme Court appointment was relevant to NFIB because the Court has jurisdiction over major regulatory and constitutional disputes affecting businesses.

  Action taken

  NFIB endorsed Neil Gorsuch's confirmation to the Supreme Court.

  Source

• 2014

  Support for America's Small Business Tax Relief ActStrategy

  Background

  NFIB argued that expanded and predictable Section 179 expensing rules would help small businesses plan investments and hiring.

  Action taken

  The federation supported legislation to retroactively extend and permanently retain higher Section 179 deduction limits.

  Source

• 2010

  Lead constitutional challenge to the Affordable Care ActStrategy

  Background

  NFIB opposed the federal health-care reform law and joined 26 states in litigation questioning its constitutionality.

  Action taken

  It served as the lead organizational plaintiff in the case that became National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius.

  Aftermath

  The Supreme Court's 2012 decision upheld most of the law's provisions.

  Outside funding for the court challenge. $3.7 million (2012)

  Source

1. 1National Federation of Independent Businessen.wikipedia.org
2. 2National Federation of Independent Business official websitenfib.com