SmallBusiness.wa.gov.au
The Small Business Specialists
Phone: 131 BIZ
Website: www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au
Links to leading small business surveys, (for West Australian businesses) are also in this section but not on this page.
Both state and federal budgets for the 2012-13 financial year have placed emphasis on easing the cost of living for Australian families and there are also some potential benefits for small businesses. For our assessment, refer to Making Cents of the Budgets 2012/2013.
The Key Statistics Australian Small Business publication provides a comprehensive overview of Australia's small businesses with emphasis on the number of businesses, business characteristics and performance.
This publication was launched by Senator Sherry on 31 October 2011 and is the first edition in a new series. It collates and presents key small business statistics sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Reserve Bank of Australia and other organisations.
PDF and RTF versions can be downloaded from the Key Facts and Statistics page on the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science, Research and Tertiary Education website.
There are 212,077 small businesses in WA (95.4% of all businesses in WA). The proportion of Western Australian businesses in each size category is illustrated below.
Note: Medium sized businesses are defined as those with 20-199 staff and large business are defined as those with >200 staff.
The industries which most small businesses in western Australian operate are:
(ABS Cat. No. 8165.0 - Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, Jun 2007 to Jun 2011)
During the 2009/10 period, there were 29,356 new business names registered in Western Australia through the Department of Commerce. This figure is significantly higher than the previous two years, where business name registrations remained steady at 25,410. This appears to indicate that confidence has increased following the global economic downturn.
However, it is important to note that business registrations are valid for three years. As such, the impact of the current economic situation on the viability of these new businesses will become more apparent over the next few years, as they renew or cancel their existing business names.
* The net balance is defined by the difference between the percentage with a positive outlook and the percentage with a negative outlook.
Construction
Total small businesses in WA: 40,682
Total businesses in WA: 41,757
Small businesses as a percent of total: 97.4%
Professional, scientific and technical services
Total small businesses in WA: 24,511
Total businesses in WA: 25,290
Small businesses as a percent of total: 96.9%
Rental, hiring and real estate services
Total small businesses in WA: 21,937
Total businesses in WA: 22,363
Small businesses as a percent of total: 98.1%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
Total small businesses in WA: 19,342
Total businesses in WA: 19,900
Small businesses as a percent of total: 97.2%
Financial and insurance services
Total small businesses in WA: 18,386
Total businesses in WA: 18,622
Small businesses as a percent of total: 98.7%
Transport, postal and warehousing
Total small businesses in WA: 13,557
Total businesses in WA: 13,961
Small businesses as a percent of total: 97.1%
Retail trade
Total small businesses in WA: 12,739
Total businesses in WA: 14,106
Small businesses as a percent of total: 90.3%
Other
Total small businesses in WA: 9,266
Total businesses in WA: 9,542
Small businesses as a percent of total: 97.1%
Manufacturing
Total small businesses in WA: 8,520
Total businesses in WA: 9,491
Small businesses as a percent of total: 89.8%
Healthcare and social assistance
Total small businesses in WA: 8,723
Total businesses in WA: 9,169
Small businesses as a percent of total: 95.1%
Administration and support services
Total small businesses in WA: 7,318
Total businesses in WA: 8,002
Small businesses as a percent of total: 91.4%
Wholesale trade
Total small businesses in WA: 6,610
Total businesses in WA: 7,152
Small businesses as a percent of total: 92.4%
Accommodation and food services
Total small businesses in WA: 5,757
Total businesses in WA: 7,353
Small businesses as a percent of total: 78.3%
Not classified
Total small businesses in WA: 5,053
Total businesses in WA: 5,161
Small businesses as a percent of total: 97.9%
Mining
Total small businesses in WA: 2,740
Total businesses in WA: 3,010
Small businesses as a percent of total: 91.0%
Arts and recreation services
Total small businesses in WA: 2,249
Total businesses in WA: 2,370
Small businesses as a percent of total: 94.9%
Education and training
Total small businesses in WA: 2,170
Total businesses in WA: 2,398
Small businesses as a percent of total: 90.5%
Information media and telecommunications
Total small businesses in WA: 1,335
Total businesses in WA: 1,411
Small businesses as a percent of total: 94.6%
Public administration and safety
Total small businesses in WA: 572
Total businesses in WA: 641
Small businesses as a percent of total: 89.2%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services
Total small businesses in WA: 610
Total businesses in WA: 667
Small businesses as a percent of total: 91.5%
*ABS Cat. No. 5368.0.55.006 - Characteristics of Australian Exporters, 2009-10
In June 2011-12, there were 18,297 small business exporters, an increase from 17,774 in the previous year.
Small businesses made up 42.5% of all goods exported.
Based on the total value of exports, the top five destination export countries for Australia are:
ABS Cat. No. 5368.0.55.006 - Characteristics of Australian Exporters, 2011-12
Statistical information on small businesses and the West Australian economy can be found in a range of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data sources. These include:
These data are sourced from the ABS Business Register. Detailed counts are presented by industry, main state and territory, type of legal organisation, institutional sector, employment size ranges and annual turnover size ranges.
This content has been prepared by the Small Business Development Corporation to provide general small business statistical information. The information here is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of publishing. It is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment and for verifying all relevant representations, statements and information.
Neither the Small Business Development Corporation nor its officers take any responsibility for statements or representations, nor will the Small Business Development Corporation or any of its officers be liable in respect of any such statement or representation, whether by reason of negligence, lack of care, or for any other reason whatever.