Business Connect results and reports

Learn more about the support provided through the Business Connect program, including customer demographics (January 2017 to December 2022), and discover insights for NSW businesses by Local Government Area and view findings from an independent review of the Business Connect program.

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How Business Connect has supported NSW businesses 

49,478
small businesses supported across NSW
334,574
hours of support given to NSW businesses
176,878
support hours for regional businesses
Small business owner

Top 3 business issues

  • Business planning
  • Marketing
  • Covid - 19 Disruption
Owner of a cafe smiling at camera

Top 3 industries supported

  • Retail trade
  • Other services1
  • Arts and recreation services

What we have achieved

16,072

referrals to government programs

10,873

referrals to the commercial sector 

33,200

estimated jobs created2

4,020

events run across NSW

97%

overall satisfaction with the service

98%

of customers likely to recommend the program

Types of business supported

Business stage

  • 40% established businesses
  • 37% startups
  • 22% intenders
  • >1% exiters

Business structure

  • 56% sole trader
  • 29% companies
  • 7% partnerships
  • 2% not for profits
  • 3% prefer not to say/not defined
  • 2% trusts

Business size

  • 61% no employees
  • 30% 1-4 employees
  • 7% 5-19 employees
  • 2% 20+ employees

Our customers

Age

  • 4% aged 16 - 24
  • 19% aged 25 - 34
  • 27% aged 35 - 44
  • 23% aged 45 - 54
  • 13% aged 55 - 64
  • 3% aged 65+
  • 11% did not provide

Gender

  • 58% female
  • 42% male

Location

  • 55% regional

Indigenous Australians

  • 1028 Aboriginal customers

Business Connect program evaluation

An independent evaluation of the Business Connect program found that the current program: 

  • fulfils a clear need, with more than half of small businesses not knowing where to go for business planning and other support needed or not being able to afford it
  • plays an important role in avoiding business failure
  • has had a positive impact on its outcomes of supporting businesses to start, grow and adapt, and increase confidence.

 

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NSW Business Profiles 2021 by Local Government Area

The NSW and LGA Business Profile contains infographic profiles of NSW Local Government Area (LGA) business statistics for 2021, using the latest data available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, with a focus on small businesses (0-19 employees). Each LGA has data shown for demographics, general statistics and business statistics.

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1 See 'other services' in Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC)

2 Up to December 2021

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