American business is the engine of the American economy. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of the Census and advocacy-funded Kathryn Kobe research, small businesses in the United States account for about half of all private-sector workers and generate 60-80 percent of new jobs.

Hispanic businesses play a significant role in America’s fastest-growing business sector. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDC), Hispanic-Americans held 6.6 percent of all U.S. business in 2002 – a figure that is on the rise. The Hispanics’ ever-increasing purchasing power can also reflect this growth.

“Research has shown that the buying power of Hispanics will exceed $860 billion in 2007 and $1.2 trillion five years from now,”Hector Barreto, Chairman of the Latino Coalition and ex-administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, (SBA), said.

But, there are specific obstacles that could impede this growth. According to the SBA many Hispanic businesses don’t survive their first two year in business.

There are many small businesses that have few employees. This creates unique challenges. According to the SBA, businesses with less than 20 employees pay 45 percent more per worker than larger companies in order to comply with federal regulations. Health care is tops on the list. This puts small businesses at severe disadvantage. Larger insurance companies are taking on the challenge. Aflac, for instance, works with small business owners to provide them with a variety options and educate them about the options so they can make informed decisions.

These tips from Aflac might be helpful for small business owners who are looking for health benefits.

* Shop for plans aimed at small businesses. Many insurers offer plans specifically for small businesses. You will have the opportunity to benefit from premiums and other special offers because there are many companies competing for this lucrative market.

* Join a group. If you join forces with other small businesses, your insurer may offer a better rate.

* Check out HSAs. You and your employees can take advantage of a Health Savings Account to allow you and them to save pretax money to help with health care expenses. The HSAs are free to offer, with the exception of the initial administration costs.

For more information about health care for small businesses, visit Aflac.com or HealthCoverageGuide.org.