How 'fiscal cliff' deal impacts small restaurateurs, franchisees

While the restaurant industry breathed a collective sigh of relief when the White House and Congress just narrowly avoided plunging the country over the "fiscal cliff" in December, not everyone is thrilled with all aspects of the deal.

“We’re pleased to see a deal reached on the fiscal cliff,” said Rob Green, president of the National Council of Chain Restaurants. “But we’re not out of the woods yet.”

While the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 ensured that about 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses would not see their income taxes rise in 2013, some restaurateurs will not be so fortunate.