The Nationals say the 2026 COSBOA Small Business Perspectives Report paints a concerning picture for regional small businesses, with operators facing tighter margins, rising costs and increasing personal pressures.
According to the report, regional small business owners are operating with fewer services while also dealing with mounting financial and workforce challenges.
NSW Shadow Minister for Small Business Gurmesh Singh said the findings reflected what business owners across regional NSW had been telling the Nationals for months.
“The results also highlight other failures of the Minns Labor Government, with housing, childcare and connectivity gaps becoming increasingly impactful on regional businesses,” Singh said.
The report, which focuses exclusively on regional, rural and remote small businesses, found:
- 87 per cent of businesses reported rising expenses over the past year, while 73 per cent said profits had fallen;
- 87 per cent of business owners seeking to recruit had difficulty filling roles;
- 37 per cent of respondents said fuel costs were a significant or critical financial pressure;
- 52 per cent of participants reported poor access to housing in their region; and
- 77 per cent of owners experienced business-related stress or anxiety during the past year.
Singh said stress, sleep disruption, burnout and isolation had become defining features of running a small business in regional NSW.
He also pointed to the NSW Small Business Commissioner’s June Momentum Survey, released last week, which he said showed declining business confidence, weakening momentum and falling profitability expectations.
“This is the Minns Labor Government’s own agency telling them that for every small business expecting to make more money, ten expect to go backwards. You can’t get a clearer warning than that,” Singh said.
Something going on in your part of the North Coast people should know about? Let us know by emailing newsdesk@nctimes.com.au