Γβ·Ρ½ϋΒώ

There were 849,075 small businesses in New South Wales (NSW) on 30 June 2023. These accounted for 34% of all Australian small businesses (compared to 31% of the population that live in NSW1). In NSW, the number of small businesses increased by 1% in the year to June 2023.

1Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional Population, 2021-22, Accessed 15 January 2024 

Table 1: Small business in NSW, 30 June 2023

Source: Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics, customised data, 2023.

Greater Sydney

There were 594,855 small businesses in Greater Sydney on 30 June 2023, representing 70% of all small businesses in NSW. The number of small businesses in the greater capital city area increased by 3,104 (representing an increase of 0.5%) over the year to June 2023.

The Greater Sydney areas with the highest number of small businesses on 30 June 2023 were:

  • Sydney Inner City (74,583 small businesses), 50% of these were in Sydney (North) – Millers Point.
  • Eastern Suburbs – North (22,003 small businesses), 20% of these were in Bondi Junction – Waverly.
  • Bankstown (20,471 small businesses), 13% of these were in Bankstown – South and 13% were in Condell Park.
  • Baulkham Hills (19,329 small businesses), 30% of these were in Baulkham Hills (West) – Bella Vista.
  • Merrylands – Guildford (18,325 small businesses), 16% of these were in Merrylands – Holroyd and 16% were in Granville – Clyde.
Regional New South Wales

There were 249,179 small businesses in the rest of NSW, accounting for 29% of NSW small businesses on 30 June 2023. The number of small businesses in the rest of the state increased by 3,404 (up 1.4%) in the year to 30 June 2023.

The areas with the highest number of small businesses were:

  • Newcastle (15,227 small businesses), 18% of these were in Newcastle – Cooks Hill.
  • Richmond Valley – Coastal (11,052 small businesses), 34% of these were in Ballina and surrounds and 19% were in Byron Bay.
  • Wollongong (10,662 small businesses), 24%% of these were in Wollongong – East.
  • Wagga Wagga (9,266 small businesses), 72% of these were in Wagga Wagga and surrounds. An additional 9% were in Temora.
  • Lake Macquarie – East (8,771 small businesses), 23% of these were in Charlestown – Dudley.
Table 2: Businesses in NSW by size, 30 June 2023

*Includes businesses where information is only available at the state/territory level.

1This includes a small number of businesses which have income tax withholding roles for purposes other than withholding amounts from wages and salaries (and as such have zero employment).

2Calculated by the Γβ·Ρ½ϋΒώ based on the ABS definition of small business of 0-19 employees.

Source: Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics, customised data, 2023.

Changes in small business numbers for NSW

 
Chart 1: Annual change in the number of small businesses in NSW

Total includes a small number of businesses where information is only available at the state/territory level.

Source: Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics, customised data, 2023.

The number of small businesses in NSW increased by 1% over the year to 30 June 2023. They increased by 3,104 (0.5%) in Greater Sydney. The areas with the largest increase in the number of small businesses were:

  • Blacktown – North (increased by 1,078 small businesses)
  • Sydney Inner City (increased by 1,065 small businesses)
  • Bringelly – Green Valley (increased by 742 small businesses).

The areas with the largest percentage increase in the previous year were:

  • Blacktown North (increased by 10%)
  • Rouse Hill – McGraths Hill (increased by 7%)
  • Bringelly – Green Valley (increased by 7%).

The number of small businesses in the rest of NSW increased by 3,404 (1.4%) over the year to 30 June 2023. The areas with the largest increase in the number of small businesses were:

  • Newcastle (increased by 467 small businesses)
  • Port Macquarie (increased by 268 small businesses)
  • Lower Hunter (increased by 267 small businesses).

The areas with the largest percentage increase in the previous year were:

  • Dapto – Port Kembla (increased by 5%)
  • Maitland (increased by 4%)
  • Port Macquarie (increased by 4%)
  • Lower Hunter (increased by 4%).