South Australia has 78,000 small businesses (ABS: Characteristics of Small Business 2003). Of these an estimated 55,000 are located within the Adelaide metropolitan area. Almost 40% of these employ between 1 - 19 people making small business a major source of regional employment.

AMACC sees the potential for increasing employment opportunities within the small business sector, and actively supports and promotes programs and projects that facilitate the development, growth and viability of small business.

Home-Based Business
In June 2003 there were 66,900 Home Based Business (HBB) Operators in South Australia according to the ABS household survey that is the basis for the “Characteristics in Small Business” publication (cat no. 8127.0). This represents 85% of all small businesses in the survey.

• 94.1% operating one business
• 4.6% operating 2 businesses
• 1.4% operating 3 or more businesses

Research into Home-based business activity within the AMACC region suggests that there are many additional businesses (up to 50%), that are not recognised within ABS statistics.

Support for Small Business

The following programs and organisations provide support for small business.

Small Business Grants

A wide range of funding programs are described on the Australian Government's GrantLink website. www.grantslink.gov.au