This WA Small Business Day, on October 26, CCIWA is pushing for more support for small and family businesses as they battle ongoing rising costs and regulatory issues.
Small businesses account for 97% of all WA businesses, and 61% of Western Australians are employed by a small business.
Small Business Day aims to celebrate the big contribution that small businesses make in WA, while encouraging consumers to ‘Think Small First’ when making purchasing decisions.
CCIWA Chief Executive Chris Rodwell says small businesses are the beating heart of WA local communities.
“Small businesses play a crucial role in driving innovation, job creation and economic growth,” he says.
“But they’re so much more than that. They’re the local family who took a leap of faith, the businesses that give young people a start, and the place that knows your name when you walk through the door.
“By supporting local small business, you’re supporting your local community.”
Small businesses are under pressure, says Rodwell
Rodwell says many small businesses have been doing it tough, battling the rising cost of doing business.
“Many small businesses are under pressure from the cost of rents, interest rates, utilities, insurance and wages, just to name a few,” he says.
“Many businesses classified as ‘small’ are having to pay payroll tax, depending on their labour costs.”
Rodwell says small businesses were also caught in the web of the Federal Government’s industrial relations reforms, because of the outdated definition of a small business.
“Currently, there are several definitions of what constitutes a small business in the Fair Work Act. In most cases it’s 15 employees or less but other times it’s 20, which makes it extremely complex,” he says.
“Many of the Federal Government’s controversial industrial relations changes apply to businesses with more than 15 employees, who are subject to the same rules and considerable penalties as a large multi-national corporation.
“A business with 16 or 17 employees can’t reasonably be considered a ‘big’ business.
“We believe there should be one definition of small business that consistently applies to businesses with up to 25 workers, which brings the definition in line with the community’s expectation.”
To be part of WA’s peak business organisation, get in touch via 1300 422 492 or [email protected].
