The cost of filling out government forms

Filling out government forms cost small businesses $12.7 billion in 1979. A study by INC. magazine in which 1,000 business people logged the hours and costs of filling out government reports and forms in 1979 found 7.3 billion questions on 305 million forms. A Virginia-based manufacturing company spent $72,545 on the forms. Another firm used 9,349 man-hours to complete 1,138 forms -- the equivalent of a year's work for 4.5 employees.