More than one-quarter (26%) of small business owners identified tax relief as the most pressing issue the new Congress and the President should address, according to the Small Business Monitor by OPEN from American Express(SM) (NYSE:AXP).

The survey, which ranks small business public policy concerns, found that improving their ability to offer or expand healthcare benefits is the most pressing issue for one in five (20%) small business owners. Keeping interest rates low and reducing required government paperwork and regulation tied as top issues for 14% of respondents, followed by improving access to small business financing (7%), improving procurement opportunities (5%) and improving the ability to conduct more business with the government (also 5%).

Start-ups - companies in business for three years or less - are three times more likely to cite improving access to small business financing as a pressing issue, compared to small businesses overall (24% vs. 7%). Female business owners are more than twice as likely to cite improving procurement opportunities/doing business with the government (12% vs. 5%). Enterprises with larger numbers of employees are more likely to want improvements in their ability to offer or expand healthcare benefits (32% of those with 50 - 99 employees, and 27% of those with 20 - 49 employees, vs. 20% of small businesses overall).

"Tax relief, access to financing, and healthcare benefits are recurring policy issues in the small business arena," said Susan Sobbott, president, OPEN from American Express. "Business owners are focused on growth and are confident in their abilities to grow their own companies, but we're seeing that a diverse cross-section of businesses are clearly looking to policy makers for support and solutions on critical policy issues."

In a 2002 survey released by OPEN from American Express at the beginning of the last Congress, 33% of small business owners put tax reform at the top of their priority list, followed by providing affordable healthcare coverage (30%), reducing onerous regulations and improving access to financing - both 14%.

Survey Methodology

The OPEN Small Business Network Semi-Annual Monitor, released each April and October, is based on a nationally representative sample of 773 small business owners/managers of companies with fewer than 100 employees. The survey was conducted via telephone by International Communications Research (ICR) from September 13-September 27, 2004. The poll has a margin of error of +/-3.5%.

About OPEN: The Small Business Network from American Express

OPEN: The Small Business Network is the division of American Express that provides small business owners an enhanced set of products, tools, services and savings designed to meet their evolving needs, including charge and credit cards, convenient access to working capital, robust online account management capabilities and savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners. To obtain more information about the OPEN Network, visit OPEN.americanexpress.com or call 1-800-NOW-OPEN to apply for a card or loan.

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, business services, insurance and international banking.