Why are retailers & the service industry so against the minimum wage?

Question

more so than other industries such as manufacturing or even other service sector industries. It seems the small businesses are even more against it than the 'big box' stores,besides Wal-Mart.

Answer 1

Because their profit margins are quite low any increases in cost get passed on the their customers in the form of higher prices.

In the case of small business the fear is greater because they are expected to compete with the big box stores but have to pay more for goods and services because they don't have the buying power of the big box stores.