Download a PDF version of the Media Kit (4-page PDF 320KB)

• The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) has been in operation since 1984 and is the primary provider of small business information and guidance in Western Australia. We facilitate the development and growth of small businesses in Western Australia by providing information, referral and business facilitation services, and deliver programs to address specific needs within the small business sector.

• The SBDC also promotes the small business sector through research, advocacy, liaison and communication activities and supports the 25 Small Business Centres situated throughout metropolitan and regional Western Australia.

• The SBDC is also responsible for the attraction and sponsorship of business migrants on behalf of the state government, through the Business Migration Centre and provides advice and recommendations to the government of the day, on a wide range of small business and business migration matters.

Small Business Statistics

Finding current reliable statistics for small business in Western Australia can be a challenge, but the SBDC has the latest information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and other reliable sources.

We also conduct our own "State of Small Business" surveys and regularly poll our Ready response Network members for indicators of small business sentiment on topical issues.

Please check our website for media releases, and online information under "Statistics", for the latest small business figures. As an example:

• According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics there were 212,077 small businesses operating in Western Australia as at June 2011. This accounts for 95.4 per cent of all businesses in the State. Of these it is estimated that, 74.5 per cent (157,997) are metropolitan businesses and 25.5 per cent (54,080) are based in regional and rural centres.

• The industries which most small businesses in Western Australia operate are:
  • Construction (19.2 per cent)
  • Professional, scientific and technical services (11.6 per cent)
  • Rental, hiring and real estate services (10.3 per cent)
  • Agriculture, forestry and fishing (9.1 per cent)
  • Financial and insurance services (8.7 per cent)

• Western Australia's 2740 small businesses in the mining sector make up 91 per cent of the mining businesses in the state.

The State of Small Business Survey

According to the State of Small Business Survey conducted by the SBDC during 2011/12:

Size of small business in WA:

• 12.6% of businesses in WA employ no staff
• 43% of businesses in WA employ 1-4 staff
• 21.6% of businesses in WA employ between 5-19 staff
• 4.8% of businesses in WA employ between 20-49 staff

Structure of small business in WA:

• 16.3% of small business operators in WA are home based
• 82.1% small business operators in WA work in a commercial premises
• 1.6% of small business operators in WA work from a mobile location

The SBDC Media Office can provide journalists with introductions and referrals to many small business operators in all regional and metropolitan areas for the purpose of news stories and business profiling. We can also provide stories and photographs ready for publishing.

Back to top

Leader in statewide support

• During the year of 2011/12, the SBDC provided guidance, referral and business advisory services to a total of 43,811 small business clients. This includes 16,091 small business clients who were provided with information and publications from the Business Information Centre on a broad range of small business issues. Clients can gather information via personal appointments, on-site visits, telephone, email and website.

• Also during 2011/12, Small Business Centres located around the State, conducted a total of 42,000 client sessions,resulting in 1,561 new business start-ups.

• From these new businesses, it is estimated that over 2,207 new jobs were created.

Back to top