There were 42,010 small businesses in Tasmania, representing 2% of Australian small businesses on 30 June 2023. This is in proportion to the 2% of Australians living in Tasmania¹.

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

Table 1: Small businesses in Tasmania, 30 June 2023

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

As shown above, 56% of Tasmania’s small businesses were in the rest of Tasmanian areas on 30 June 2023. This aligns with the population distribution, with 56% of the population living outside the greater capital city area of Tasmania.

Table 2: Businesses in Tasmania by size, 30 June 2023

_{^* Includes businesses where information is only available at the state/territory level.}

_{¹ This 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 ASBFEO 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 businesses numbers for Tasmania

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

_{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 Tasmania increased 2% over the year to 30 June 2023. They increased by 533 (3%) in Greater Hobart. The areas with the largest increase in the number of small businesses were:

• Rokeby (increased by 59 small businesses)
• Glenorchy (increased by 52 small businesses)
• Sorell - Richmond (increased by 47 small businesses)
• Bellerive – Rosny (increased by 47 small businesses).

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

• Rokeby (increased by 24%)
• New Norfolk (increased by 20%)
• Austins Ferry – Granton (increased by 13%).

The number of small businesses in the rest of Tasmania increased by 152 (1%) over the year to 30 June 2023. The areas with the largest increase in the number of small businesses were:

• Riverside (increased by 31 small businesses)
• Legana (increased by 28 small businesses)
• St Helens - Scamander (increased by 27 small businesses).

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

• Ravenswood (increased by 31%, to 68 small businesses)
• Romaine - Havenview (increased by 14%, to 96 small businesses)
• Legana  (increased by 10%, to 298 small businesses).