25 November 2021
Of the 2.4 million businesses in Australia, the majority (2.35 million or 98 per cent) are small businesses.
Nearly two-thirds of businesses are sole traders and more than a third employ 1-19 staff. The state with the largest number of SMEs is NSW, with 33% of all SMEs located in NSW.
The industry with the largest number of small businesses is construction (17%) followed by professional, scientific, and technical services (13%) then rental, hiring and real estate services (11%).
Latest news
Good afternoon and thank you to the Trans-Tasman Business Circle for the invitation to speak today. I want to welcome you all here today for this event and the critically important subject I will be talking about, the emerging contribution gap between Australia’s domestically domiciled company and the rise of big tech. It is a timely moment to take stock. In… Read more »
Australia’s banks contributed a record $16 billion in taxes and other levies in the 2025 financial year, enough to fund over 370 million bulk-billed GP appointments, according to a new report released today by the Australian Banking Association. The Contribution Gap: Tax and regulatory imbalances in the digital age, highlights the critical role banks play… Read more »
The ABA welcomes the release today of Treasury’s exposure draft legislation to regulate Australia’s cash-in-transit sector. ABA CEO Simon Birmingham said this regulatory framework was an essential piece in the puzzle of ensuring cash remains available to Australians who still use it. “This is a welcome step and will be an important safety net in… Read more »