National Federation of Independent Business

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is a lobbying organization with its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee and offices in Washington, D.C. USA, and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB's lobbying efforts are focused on the impact of current and proposed legislation on businesses (primarily small businesses) and professional practices at all levels of government, but primarily at the federal and state levels. NFIB claims a membership base of about 350,000.

History

NFIB was founded by C. Wilson Harder in 1943 and maintained its headquarters in San Mateo, California until 1992 when it was re-located to Nashville.

Beginning in its earliest history, NFIB's positions were determined by a polling of its membership. Periodic ballots (referred to as Mandates) were mailed to its members who then had an opportunity to vote their opinions on the questions presented. Once the votes were tallied, the majority position became NFIB's position.

In recent years NFIB has supported such items as tort reform, repeal of the estate tax, reduction of governmental paperwork, and creation of affordable health insurance plans – by allowing small business to pool resources.

NFIB has grown from an entrepreneurial vision in 1943 to a national organization. Fortune Magazine ranks NFIB as the number one business lobby (third overall) of all advocacy groups. In May 1943, Wilson Harder left his job at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to found NFIB in Burlingame, California, (and...
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