Running a business has its own pressures and problems. Not enough people, especially those in power, understand what it means to run your own business on a day-to-day basis. that's the claim of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which has been signing up the great and the good – well, politicians – to spend some time in a small firm to find out exactly what goes on. Delia Colegate, Devon regional organiser for the FSB, has convinced Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross, among others, of the need to step behind the curtain and experience what it feels like to run your own company. 'Now all we have to do is find the right business for him to shadow,' she said. The FSB is the UK's largest lobby organisation and represents more than 200,000 self-employed and owners of small businesses. And it has recently opened offices in Brussels, taking that lobbying power to another level of decision-making. Nationally, the organisation is already putting pressure on Sir Michael Lyons' review of local government finance, one proposal of which is for local authorities to set business rates. A petition against this proposal has been set up for members and any small business to sign. But it is the grass roots message from each region that is key for the FSB, which has lately been gaining headway with its campaign to encourage small businesses to claim the small business rate relief to which they are entitled. 'We've been quite successful in Teignbridge,' said Mrs Colegate. Despite having no obligation to do so, councils have been sending out information about the relief along with the rates demand. 'For small businesses this is their money and all they have to do is claim it,' said Mrs Colegate. 'Sometimes that amount of money can mean the difference between carrying on and going under.' One of the issues that the FSB is looking into is the impact the change of licensing procedures has had on small organisations, particularly those for whom the bar is not the main income source, such as guest houses. Another is what impact the cost of crime has on small businesses. 'At the moment business crime isn't a performance indicator for the police,' said Mrs Colegate, and for such a broad subject, including broken shop windows, abuse to staff, shoplifting, and staff crime, which has a real impact, there has been no real understanding of the level of business crime or awareness of cost to the business community. But the FSB isn't just about lobbying. There are a whole bunch of benefits of becoming a member, including 24-hour free legal advice (which isn't limited to business advice). 'Legal advice on employment issues can be important for some firms,' said Mrs Colegate. 'And if you follow the legal advice and it still comes to court you'll get representation.' Couple that with the opportunity for free business banking, preferential credit card payment systems and insurance schemes, to name but three of the member benefits and it's a wonder that more small firms aren't queuing up give more power to its lobbying elbow. 'The legal service is a great benefit, along with all the others. For the cost of just a cup of coffee a week, I don't understand why more small businesses don't take up the opportunity,' said Mrs Colegate. Maybe after his stint at the coalface that will be the same conclusion Mr Younger-Ross will come to – that and the need to cut red tape, of course.