Jeremy McKinney, a Democrat, credits President Obama's policies for the current economic recovery. He says his firm suffered its worse financial year in 2008, but now times are better.

"Each year we have been able to climb back. And this year has been our best year ever in the history of this law firm. We can see the president and this administration and its policies creating this economic recovery in action," McKenney said.

Guinn says Romney's plan to cut corporate taxes will allow small business owners to hire more workers. But he worries President Obama's health-care reform law will cost his company more, because he currently does not provide health insurance for his workers.

"If I am at the point where I have to furnish insurance for all the employees that I would put on my solid payroll, I would almost have to use more casual [part-time] workers because I just could not afford the insurance program and still stay in business and make a profit," Guinn said.

McKinney says the health-care law is already helping his business by providing tax credits to offset the costs of health-care coverage for his employees.

"With less than 50 employees we pay a lot more for our health insurance than large employers. That will hopefully change in 2014 as we combine with other small businesses to negotiate health-care contracts with insurance companies," McKinney said.

Both small business owners are hoping for better times, but they paint the upcoming presidential contest as a stark choice between two competing visions of economic vitality.