Small business statistics

2,741,087

small businesses actively trading

30 June 2026 · Small Business Ombudsman

Businesses with fewer than 20 employees, including those with none, which is the ABS size definition of a small business. Up 84,618 (3.2%) on 30 June 2025. Counted by the Small Business Ombudsman from ABS data.

97%

of actively trading businesses are small businesses

30 June 2026 · Small Business Ombudsman

Small businesses have fewer than 20 employees, including those with none.

2,814,778

businesses actively trading

30 June 2026 · ABS

Up 85,130 (3.1%) on the year. Covers businesses in the market sector that are registered for GST and remitting it, plus large businesses the ABS profiles directly.

996,203

businesses with employees

30 June 2026 · ABS

Employing in ABS terms: an active payroll withholding role with a remittance to the ATO in the past five quarters, or three years for annual remitters, plus all large businesses the ABS profiles directly.

1,818,575

businesses with no employees

30 June 2026 · ABS

Non-employing in ABS terms: no active payroll withholding role with a remittance to the ATO in the past five quarters, or three years for annual remitters. Up 4.8% on the year.

9,020,389

Australian Business Numbers on the register that have not been cancelled

June 2026 · ABS

Of these, 5,993,998 had no active GST role or had stopped remitting GST, and the ABS does not count them as actively trading businesses.

460,461

businesses joined the ABS count of trading businesses

2025-26 · ABS

Includes 316,178 business births, which are new registrations, and 144,283 other entries, such as businesses that reactivated a cancelled ABN or started remitting GST again.

16.9%

business entry rate

2025-26 · ABS

The ABS's entry rate for the year. For businesses with no employees it was 20.4%.

375,331

businesses left the ABS count of trading businesses

2025-26 · ABS

Includes 297,588 cancellations, where an ABN was cancelled or a large business unit ceased, and 77,743 other exits, such as businesses that stopped remitting GST for an extended period.

13.8%

business exit rate

2025-26 · ABS

The ABS's exit rate for the year. For businesses with no employees it was 17.2%.

61.9%

of businesses trading at the start of the period were still trading at the end

June 2022 to June 2026 · ABS

Businesses actively trading in June 2022 that were still actively trading at 30 June of each year to June 2026.

49.2%

of businesses that joined the count were still trading at the end of the period

Entered in 2022-23, to June 2026 · ABS

Businesses that entered the ABS count in 2022-23 and were still actively trading in June 2026. Entries include businesses re-entering the count, not only new businesses.

14,153

companies entered external administration or had a controller appointed for the first time

2025-26 · ASIC

Down from 14,722 in 2024-25. Each company is counted once, at its first appointment, unless it leaves external administration and later re-enters it. Members' voluntary liquidations, which wind up solvent companies, are not included.

6,386

companies entered external administration for the first time through a creditors' voluntary liquidation

2025-26 · ASIC

A liquidation of an insolvent company, started by its directors and shareholders. Counted by the company's first appointment, so a company that moves into liquidation from voluntary administration is counted as a voluntary administration.

3,144

companies entered external administration for the first time through a court liquidation

2025-26 · ASIC

A court liquidation starts with a court order, usually after an application by a creditor. Counted by the company's first appointment, so a company placed in court liquidation after a provisional liquidator or another appointment is not counted here.

1,714

companies entered external administration for the first time through a small business restructuring

2025-26 · ASIC

In a small business restructuring, a restructuring practitioner helps the directors of an eligible company develop a plan to repay its debts, and oversees the plan if creditors accept it. Down from 2,918 in 2024-25.

39%

of private sector employment was in small businesses

2023-24 · Small Business Ombudsman

The Small Business Ombudsman's calculation from ABS Australian Industry, Table 5. Small businesses have 0 to 19 employees. Covers private sector industries other than financial and insurance services, with employment at the end of June 2024. The ABS revised its figures for this year and published 2024-25 figures on 19 June 2026. This share was calculated from the earlier ABS release.

32%

of private sector industry value added came from small businesses

2023-24 · Small Business Ombudsman

The Small Business Ombudsman's calculation from ABS Australian Industry, Table 5. Small businesses have 0 to 19 employees. Industry value added is the market value of what businesses produce, less the materials and expenses used to produce it. Wages are not deducted. Covers private sector industries other than financial and insurance services. The ABS revised its figures for this year and published 2024-25 figures on 19 June 2026. This share was calculated from the earlier ABS release.

$25,124 million

private new capital expenditure on equipment, plant and machinery, in volume terms

June quarter 2026 · ABS

Chain volume measure (reference year 2023-24), seasonally adjusted. Down 8.9% on the March quarter 2026. Excludes agriculture, forestry and fishing, public administration and safety, superannuation funds, the public sector and micro non-employing businesses.

18.7%

rise in private investment in equipment, plant and machinery over the year

June quarter 2025 to June quarter 2026 · ABS

Seasonally adjusted, in volume terms.

2,943.2 million dollars

in new finance leases to businesses for plant and equipment

June quarter 2026 · ABS

Seasonally adjusted value of new finance lease commitments accepted by businesses, from lenders covering approximately 95% of business lending. A finance lease passes substantially all the risks and rewards of owning the asset to the business.

821.3 million dollars

in new finance leases to businesses for road vehicles

June quarter 2026 · ABS

Seasonally adjusted value of new finance lease commitments accepted by businesses, from lenders covering approximately 95% of business lending.

56,305

cafe and restaurant businesses trading

30 June 2025 · ABS

ANZSIC class 4511: businesses that mainly serve food and drink for customers to eat on the premises, usually seated with table service. A business with several venues is counted once. The ABS may slightly perturb class counts to protect confidentiality.

27,415

takeaway food businesses trading

30 June 2025 · ABS

ANZSIC class 4512: businesses where customers order and pay before eating, including takeaway shops, food courts, juice bars and food vans. A business with several venues is counted once. The ABS may slightly perturb class counts.

7,961

gym and fitness centre businesses trading

30 June 2025 · ABS

ANZSIC class 9111, health and fitness centres and gymnasia operation, which also covers health clubs. A business with several venues is counted once. The ABS may slightly perturb class counts.