The Small Business Council is surveying small business owners and managers about the reality of running a small business or enterprise in New Zealand.

Small Business Council deputy chair Dr Deborah Shepherd said the survey is a chance for the council to hear from those who “live and breathe small business on a daily basis”.

Shepherd said up to 97 per cent of businesses in New Zealand are small businesses, employing more than 600,000 Kiwis.

“This is an incredibly important sector for our economy,” Shepherd said.

“The Small Business Council has been tasked with developing a strategy for small enterprise in New Zealand and to get this right we need to hear from those on the ground.

“We want to know what is going well for people in small businesses, and where things could improve. Do you feel your business is succeeding? Can you get the staff you need? Are you getting the most out of technology? We also want to know about your plans for the future. Are you planning to grow or shrink your business? Are you planning to seek finance for your business? Is exporting in your future?

“New Zealand is full of diverse, interesting small businesses with varying needs. We need to make sure that New Zealand has a strategy for this sector and getting input from the businesses themselves is vital to this – this is your chance to help shape the future.”

The council has identified four key themes to focus on in the development of a strategy that needs to provide real solutions and support for small businesses in the future. Issues around access to capital and finance, workforce and skills, compliance and enablers, and innovation and sustainability have been identified as priority work areas.

You can find the survey here. Small businesses have until Tuesday 12 March to complete the survey.

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