In celebrating the efforts of small businesses, elected officials and policymakers must also celebrate the drivers of entrepreneurship and small business growth — and that includes Big Tech.

Companies usually targeted by politicians and their appointees —  Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google, among them —  have taken the entrepreneurial journey from startups to wildly successful businesses. All these enterprises are headquartered in the United States and serve as examples of amazing entrepreneurial success stories. It’s appropriate to celebrate the cases in which small businesses serve consumers well and, by doing so, become global leaders.

Even when hit with a barrage of political rhetoric about Big Tech and so-called monopolies or monopoly power, don’t ignore the market realities that no matter how large and successful a company becomes, it can’t afford to rest on its laurels. Especially in this dynamic, 21st-century economy, large firms compete against current, emerging and future ventures both domestically and internationally. 

To get a flavor of this reality, check out some of the U.S. Census data on employer firms (2019 latest) by size in major tech sectors. Among software publishers, 97 percent of firms have less than 500 employees and nearly
67 percent have fewer than 10 employers. Among internet publishing, broadcasting and web search portals, almost 98 percent of firms have fewer than 500 employees and more than 82 percent have less than 10. In the telecommunications sector, 98.5 percent of firms have less than 500 employees and almost 76 percent have less than 10.

A survey conducted by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council of entrepreneurs who started businesses during the pandemic revealed how vital various technology tools and platforms were to their launches and ongoing operations. 

When asked what tools or sales channels they use to sell products or services, 65 percent said they used physical stores, followed by 62 percent citing Facebook, 48 percent citing Instagram and 47 percent websites. Entrepreneurs understand the importance of a combination of physical and online presence.

What about technology’s role in starting up the business? Well, 89 percent of entrepreneurs agreed social media was a major factor in launching their businesses. While 87 percent said access to electronic payment options was important, 79 percent cited affordable online ads, 77 percent pointed to e-commerce sites and website builders, 73 percent noted access to back office services provided by technology platforms and 56 percent highlighted access to online marketplaces.

Fully 68 percent of these pandemic entrepreneurs said they relied on established tech platforms either a great deal (38 percent) or quite a bit (30 percent), with another 22 percent saying somewhat.

Finally, small business owners understand government attacks on big business usually have negative consequences for small firms. The survey of entrepreneurs who started firms up during the pandemic found that 61 percent of those who responded were worried proposed regulations on tech companies could hurt their businesses. Of those, 58 percent were worried tech regulation would make it more expensive to access and retain customers. An identical proportion  were worried they’d have to pay for services provided for free, and 47 percent were worried it could be harder for customers to find their businesses.

National Small Business Week brings out politicians who sing the praises of small businesses. Rightly so.

President Joe Biden declared: “For generations, small businesses across America have shaped and embodied our nation’s entrepreneurial spirit and driven our economy forward.  Today, more than 32 million small businesses employ almost half of America’s work force and represent the heart and soul of countless communities. During National Small Business Week, we celebrate America’s small businesses and their enormous contributions to American life and prosperity.”

That’s great. But President Biden and members of Congress need to reverse course on a wide array of policy measures — including proposals and actions that vastly increase regulation on technology leaders or aim to break up these firms —which in the end would directly or indirectly inflict real harm on America’s small businesses and our vibrant startup ecosystem.