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Department of State GrowthSmall Business Research 2017Presentation to Small Business Forums
Barriers & Constraints for Small Businesses
Business Profile
Key Opportunities for Small Businesses
Programs and Services Needed
Information and Resources Sought by Small Businesses
Preferred Methods of Communication
Objectives
Research Objectives
2
n=420 clients of the Department of State Growth’s programs and services; and n=380 non-clients drawn from EMRS’ own database of small businesses.
Using a qualitative approach, we facilitated one focus group with 13 small business stakeholders to gain insights into the small business sector from the perspective of those in the industry.
Who We Spoke to
3
Using a quantitative approach (i.e. telephone interviewing), we surveyed 800 small businesses located across all of the 7 Enterprise Centres Tasmania regions.
To ensure the sample was representative of the number of small businesses in each of the Enterprise Centres Tasmania regions, the data was weighted.
The total sample of 800 gives answers that will fall within ± 3.43 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
For the purposes of this research, a small business is defined as a business employing less than 20 people.
21%10 to 19
years
37%20 years or
more
5%Less than
1 year
3%Not yet
operating
14%5 to 9 years
20%1 to 4 years
Length of Time in Operation of Business
4Q. Approximately how long has your business been in operation?
10%Starting up
40%In growth
49%Mature
Stage of Business Growth
5Q. At what stage of growth is your business at? Would you say…
Business Structure
14%Trust
17%Partnership
32%Sole trader
37%Company
Business Type
3%Franchise
4%Agency
21%Home based
4%Company
57%Family based
Business Structure & Business Type
6
Q. I’m now going to read you a list of business structures. Can you please tell me which best describes your business.
Q. I’m now going to read you a list of business types. Can you please tell me which best describes your business.
67%confirmed they
had paid employees
81%in total
had full-time employees
of these
of these
96%reported hiring their employees
directly only
33%confirmed
they are non-employingbusinesses
Number of Employees
79%in total
had part-time/casual employees
7
• 34% - Micro business (1 - 5 FTE employees)• 65% - Other small business (6 – 20 FTE employees)
Q. Apart from you, does your business have any paid employees?
Q. Apart from you, how many people does your business employ full-time and/or part-time or casual basis?
17%in total had less
employees
26%in total
had moreemployees
55%in total
had no change
Change in Employee Numbers – Past & Future
8
Change in Employee Numbers Compared to 2 Years Ago Plans to Change Employee Numbers in the Next 2 Years
43%had plans to change their
employee numbers
of these
92%were planning
to increase their employee numbers
6%were planning
to decrease their employee numbers
Q. Compared to 2 financial years ago, would you say that your business now has more or less employees?
Q. In the next 2 financial years, do you have plans to change the number of your employees? Are you planning to increase/ decrease the number of employees?
4%Went to overseas
customers
15%went to
interstate customers
Over the Last 2 Years
80%of reported sales
went to Tasmaniancustomers
In the Next 2 Years
28%had plans to change their interstate/
overseas sales
of these
94%were planning
to increase their interstate sales
50%were planning
to increase their overseas sales
Tasmanian, Interstate & Overseas Customer Sales – Past & Future
9
Q. Over the last 2 financial years, roughly what percentage of your sales went to Tasmanian customers/ interstate customers/ overseas customers?
Q. In the next 2 financial years, are you planning to change your volume of sales to interstate or overseas customers? Q. Are you planning to…
New Products, Services or Business Processes – Past & Future
22%said
“none”
In the Last 2 Years
43%developed
new or improved products
44%developed
new or improved services
53%introduced
new or improved business
processes
The majority of businesses had been
innovating
28%said
“none”
In the Next 2 Years
44%had plans to develop new or improved
business processes
45%had plans to develop new or improved
products
45%had plans to develop new or improved
services
The majority of businesses have plans
for innovation
10Q. In the last 2 financial years, which of the following have you done?Q. Are you planning to develop any new or improved products, services or business processes in the next 2 years?
Staff Training – Past & Future
28%said they had not
Training in the Last 2 Years
Training in the Next 2 Years
72%said they or
their staff had participated in
training
66%said they or
their staff had plans to
participate in training
28%said they had not
11Q. Have you or any of your staff participated in training in the last 2 years?Q. Are you or your staff planning to participate in any training in the next 2 years?
Barriers & Constraints for doing Business in Tasmania
15%felt there were not
of these
81%felt there were
barriers, challenges or constraints to
operating a business
successfully
“Compliance with government restrictions/ regulations/ red tape/ registration” (28%)
“High expense of freight/ inadequate freight equalisation/ transport costs within the state” (12%)
“Distribution/ transport logistics/ limited transport infrastructure” (10%)
“Poor access to markets/ limited markets for small businesses” (9%)
“Inability to find skilled staff/ retain staff” (9%)
“Competition/ competing with big business” (8%)
“Lack of population/ less disposable income/ lack of demand” (8%)
“Access to finance” (8%)
The most frequently reported challenges, barriers and constraints were:
12Q. What in your view are the key challenges, barriers or constraints for small businesses?
Key Opportunities for Small Businesses in Tasmania
21%felt there were not
67%felt there were
key opportunities
for small businesses
of these
“Opportunities in tourism” (25%)
“Finding new niche markets/ market gaps/ unique products” (10%)
“Always opportunities if you work hard/ you need confidence/ to have a go” (7%)
“More government support/ funding/ reduce red tape” (10%)
“Tasmanian food and wine” (7%)
The key opportunities reported by the respondents were:
13
Q. Do you see any key opportunities for small businesses in Tasmania to operate successfully?Q. What are these key opportunities?
Government Support Services & Programs
6%felt it
should not
89%felt the
government should provide support
services and programs
of these “Financial assistance/ funding/ grants/ loans” (25%)
“Training/ up-skilling courses/ staff training/ apprenticeship schemes” (16%)
“Advice/ assistance to set up a business” (14%)
“Mentoring/ coaching/ support/ advice” (12%)
“Financial advice/ help with taxes etc.” (8%)
The types of business support services and assistance programs reported most frequently were:
14
Q. Do you think the Tasmanian government should provide support services and assistance programs for small businesses in Tasmania to help them start, grow and/or overcome any barriers they face?
Knowledge and Business Skills Required
45%None or not applicable
11%Financial
management/ tax/ insurance
11%Computer skills/ IT/ technology/
developing business online
10%Marketing
and promotion
7%Business
planning/ development
15Q. Would you like to develop any particular knowledge or business skills in the next 12 months?
16
75%Growing & improving
your business 74%Grants,
funding & assistance
67%Getting or
maximisingyour
business online
61%Finances, tax & insurance
59%Employing
& managing people
54%Training
staff
46%Managing
customers & suppliers
44%Government
tendering
43%Obtaining relevant business licences
41%Exiting your
business
31%Preparing
your business for
natural disasters
23%Registering
your business
name
32%Starting a business
Information Businesses Need to Start & Grow
Q. I am now going to read you a list of some information topics often used by small businesses to help them start and grow. Please tell me which ones would assist your business.
67%Online/
websites (including Google)
21%Industry
association
18%Face-to-face interaction
8%Accountant
5%Industry
publications
17
How Businesses Find Information
Q. Where do you find the information you use for your business?
Preferred Information Delivery Methods
“Documents downloaded from a website” (62%)
Most Preferred Methods for Delivering Information
“Small group training workshops” (49%)
“One-on-one training” (43%)
“Seminars, forums or conferences” (35%)
of these
Most Preferred Venues for One-on-One Training
Preferred Time Allocation for Business Information Sessions
of these
Preferred Time of Day for Business Information Sessions
42%At my
business
28%Off-site
28%Either/ no preference
54%Half-day sessions
21%Full-day sessions
7%Sessions
over several
days
“During work hours” (54%)
“After hours” (31%)
18
Additional Comments on Government Programs, Services & Communication
19
15%More
awareness/ promoting available resources
11%On the ground
contact/ talking to small
businesses
15%Financial
assistance/ funding/ grants
10%Better
communication with small
businesses/ feedback
9%Easier access
to information
9%Reducing red tape/ cost of compliance
6%Listen to
small operators/
the little people
Q. Finally, do you have any additional comments on how the Department of State Growth can improve its programs, services and communications in support of the small business sector in Tasmania?
Of the total sample of respondents, 41% chose to provide an additional comment.