Starting March 12th, more than 8,000 firms nationwide will be eligible for small business benefits.

“I'm trying to provide a service for people in need and trying to be successful,” said Crème de la Crème owner Enrique Simmons.

But several of those new additions are large corporations.

Lawmakers are concerned these new rules will only hinder entrepreneurs.

Simmons has been through the grind, he said, "As a new business no one knows anything about you or where you're located. If they are putting out that we need to grow our business and expand and create new jobs, if it's a big corporation they're already established."

That's because more emphasis will now be placed on those eligible for government programs instead of the size of the business.

“Companies are competing for minimum resources and that diminishes the resources in an expeditious fashion,” said Diversified Real Estate Services Broker Thomas A. Griffin.

Griffin opened his company in November.

“It's a little more difficult to get resources for smaller companies because you rely on your personal credibility than the business itself,” said Griffin.

Despite the change, both Simmons and Griffin admit there's no better feeling than working for yourself.

That "can-do" attitude has caught on with staff.

“To see they're investing their time and money into something, it encourages me,” said Sharisse Render.

Simmons plans to expand his menu and hire more employees in the fall.

And Griffin said, "With patience and putting the proper infrastructure in place first and with time is all it takes."

Ultimately Simmons says if you want your city to grow, you have to support your small businesses.

Small Business Administration received a 30-percent boost in federal funding.

It's part of President Obama's 2013 budget proposal.