Compounding the troubles, the high cost of credit stunted business.

WSJ: Thatcher's Economic Overhauls Still Debated

Citing potential adverse effects on the cost and availability of credit to small business owners, the Federal Reserve concluded in a recent report to Congress that imposing stricter regulations on small business credit cards would do more harm than good.

FORBES: Credit Card Tip Of The Week: How To Choose a Safe Small-Business Card

"Just as credit-card companies accept some level of loss as a cost of doing business, so some CIOs are saying 'if I do a really solid job of protecting my systems, then I can live with the low-level pain that some break-ins cause, ' " said Paller.

CNN: Survey: CIOs not worried about security

Now, in a survey of more than 600 small business owners and executives, the Ponemon Institute has tried to put a number on the cost of credit card account fraud for those vulnerable targets, comparing the damage with the cost of physical theft by employees or burglars.

FORBES: For Small Businesses, Account Fraud Adds Up

Already, small business owners are taking advantage of the new health care tax credit that can offset as much as 35 percent of the cost of covering their employees.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama on Health Reform at Families USA