Get Started: Money, regulation are small business challenges

Small businesses are still struggling to get the money they need and to comply with government regulations, according to a survey by Babson College.

Company owners who took part in the survey said they've been able to get only about 40 percent of the money they requested from all sources, including loans and investor funding.

Businesses that seek funding are most likely to use it to supplement their cash flow or to buy real estate or equipment.

Only about 8 percent of the owners said they wanted money so they could hire more staffers — a finding that's in line with other surveys that have shown owners are conservative about expanding their payrolls.

The survey found that it's usually the small business owner who handles regulatory issues, complying with federal, state and local rules and tax laws.