Coffs Harbour MP and NSW Nationals Leader Gurmesh Singh says it has never been harder to run a small business in NSW, as he urges locals to shop local this Small Business Month.
Mr Singh, who is also Shadow Minister for Small Business, joined NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane to call on people to back local businesses during October.
The pair say struggling businesses are facing rising costs, weak confidence, and record insolvencies.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities, especially in regional NSW,” Mr Singh said.
“They provide jobs and contribute to local organisations like schools and sporting clubs.”
The Opposition has pointed to the NSW Small Business Commissioner’s July Momentum Survey to back its case.
The survey found only six per cent of business owners expected profits to rise, while 63 per cent expected them to fall.
Just nine per cent of businesses were confident about their local economy. Almost 70 per cent were extremely or fairly worried about their own business prospects.
“Confidence has fallen to record lows under the Minns Labor Government, with more than 6,200 NSW businesses closing their doors in 2025,” Ms Sloane said.
“I want people to shop local and support small businesses in October but we must do better when it comes to the taxes and charges under Labor.”
The Liberals and Nationals have promised significant payroll tax relief if elected.
“Business is what drives our state, it’s creating the jobs in communities, and we need to give them a reason to hire and take on that extra apprentice which is why the NSW Liberals and Nationals will deliver the most competitive payroll tax regime in the country,” Ms Sloane said.
Small Business Month runs until Saturday, 31 October.
And the businesses themselves are shrinking.
New research released by NSW Small Business Commissioner Kalina Koloff for the start of Small Business Month found 63 per cent of NSW small businesses now operate with fewer than four employees, up from around 57 per cent five years ago.
Microbusiness numbers grew by 4.3 per cent between 2024 and 2025, almost double the rate of overall business growth.
“Digital platforms and flexible ways of working have lowered the barriers to starting a business,” Ms Koloff said.
“And many no longer need a shopfront, a large team or expensive equipment.”
More than half (57 per cent) of NSW small businesses now sell beyond their local area, and almost half (47 per cent) are using AI tools.
Forget the image of the young start-up founder.
“More than one in five NSW small business owners are aged 60 or over, and only 7.7 per cent are under 30,” Ms Koloff said.
“Under the Minns Labor Government, red tape and inflation are increasing and margins are shrinking,” Mr Singh said.
“Only the Liberals and Nationals have a plan to restore business confidence across NSW.”
Social media excerpt: Only six per cent of business owners expect profits to rise. Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh says it’s never been tougher, and he’s urging locals to shop close to home.
Tags: Gurmesh Singh, Kellie Sloane, Kalina Koloff, NSW Nationals, NSW Liberals, NSW Small Business Commissioner