With gas and energy prices hitting highs in the past few months, the self-employed are cutting back their business activity, according to the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE). Results from a survey of more than 500 NASE members reveal that fifty-three percent said the rise in prices has moderately or significantly hurt their business.

"High gas prices are still hurting the self-employed, many of whom depend on their vehicles to conduct the day-to-day work of their businesses," said NASE President Kristie L. Arslan. "What the self-employed and micro-businesses (10 or fewer employees) truly need is a retroactive update to the Internal Revenue Service's 2012 mileage deduction. This action would better reflect the high cost of gasoline in the beginning of 2012."

Three-quarters of the self-employed use their vehicle both for business and personal use. In fact, almost half of respondents said they spent over $250 on gasoline for their vehicles in a month, the largest answer possible to choose in the survey. Nearly 70% said that the cost of gas changes their driving behavior.

"When business and personal finances are so closely tied, as they often are for the self-employed and micro-businesses, any rise in cost can be significantly damaging to the health of a company," Arslan said. "Almost three-quarters of our business owners have seen energy costs for their homes rise, as well, which impacts their home offices."

The following responses are from open-ended questions in the member survey that allowed respondents to voice their concerns:

• "The prices mean I have less to spend on other items for business."
• "I opened another office in a town 40 minutes north to serve my patients in that area who were restricted in their travel by high gas costs."
• "I increased prices, reduced my workforce, and implemented new policies on energy use."
• "I reduced events attended for business training, professional associations, and contact meetings."
• "I try to consolidate business travel to save gas. Unfortunately, I can't pass on the price of gas to my clients."

See the full survey in the NASE Survey Results section.