NEWS | SBA Office of Advocacy Hotline Resource Helps NSBA Members, Small Businesses Cut Through Federal Red Tape

NSBA commends the SBA Office of Advocacy for investing in tools to support small-business owners, including the Red Tape Hotline, which is designed to streamline action that results in reduced, more effective small-business rules and regulations - a Priority Issue for our members in the 119th Congress.

ANALYSIS | Working to support the SBA Office of Advocacy’s “Tell Us What’s Holding You Back” initiative, NSBA is reinforcing a critical feedback loop that turns real-world small-business pain points into actionable regulatory reform, ensuring policymakers hear directly from small-business owners facing federal red tape, not just from agencies writing the rules.

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FEB. 19, 2026 | In addition to NSBA’s small-business toolbox, small-business owners across the country have another powerful tool to make their voices heard in Washington, with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy encouraging entrepreneurs and small firms to use the “Tell Us What’s Holding You Back” guidebook to report federal regulations that are slowing growth, adding unnecessary costs, or creating confusion for Main Street businesses.

RELATED | NSBA MEMBERS VOTE TO ADDRESS FEDERAL COMPLIANCE, REGULATORY BURDENS AS PRIORITY ISSUE FOR 119^TH CONGRESS

Serving as the independent voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA Office of Advocacy launched the Red Tape Hotline to collect real-world feedback directly from small-business owners about regulatory challenges.

Designed to help cut through burdensome requirements, the hotline gives small-business owners an opportunity to share their experiences with rules and processes that aren’t working.

Through the “Tell Us What’s Holding You Back” resource, small businesses can highlight issues such as:

• Confusing or costly federal regulations

• Outdated or duplicative paperwork

• Requirements that don’t fit small business operations

• Delays in permitting or licensing

• Inconsistent enforcement of federal rules

You don’t need legal expertise.  Just your experience and honest feedback.

NSBA members and small-business owners and entrepreneurs can submit feedback in multiple ways, including by:

• Email: RedTape@sba.gov;

• Online: Submit specific concerns directly through the Office of Advocacy’s form; or by

• Phone: Call 800-827-5722 (Option 3) Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. ET.

If you’re unsure whether your issue fits the hotline’s scope, NSBA and SBA staff are available to help you determine the best way to share your challenge.

Feedback collected through “Tell Us What’s Holding You Back” is used by the Office of Advocacy to inform policymakers, federal agencies, and legislators about the real impact of regulations on small businesses. This direct input helps shape smarter, more flexible policies that better support job creation and economic growth.

Small businesses are a vital engine of the U.S. economy, and NSBA commends the Office of Advocacy for making it easier for small-business owners to speak up when federal rules stand in their way.

Learn more and submit your regulatory concerns at the SBA Office of Advocacy here.

Did you know NSBA's Small Business Technology Council President Jere Glover is a former Chief Counsel for the SBA Office of Advocacy? NSBA's network is just one way we are keeping our members connected directly to Congress and decision makers across Washington. Advocate for common sense policy and regulatory changes to better benefit your Small Business with NSBA - join us.