The majority of businesses across Australia are small in size. They form the backbone of our local economies.

In Blacktown City, there are about 25,000 registered businesses operating across the LGA. Of these, around 15,300 are sole traders. Set out below is a breakdown of the key features of business size and type in Blacktown City.

Size	No. (2019)	Dominant business sectors
Sole trader	15,334	Transport/postal/warehouse (4,650); construction (2,236); rental/real estate (1,399); profession service (1,385); finance/insurance (1,123) – 70% of the total
1 – 19	9,081	Construction (2,134); professional services (1,125); transport/postal/warehouse (868); retail (772); manufacturing (564); wholesale (544)
20 – 199	575	Wholesale (96); construction (90); manufacturing (85); accommodation/food services (55); retail (44)
+200	13	Administrative/support (4); wholesale (3); arts/recreation (3); transport/postal /warehouse (3)

These figures are sourced from Economy.id. They do not, however, take into account the effects of the pandemic on business activity or those businesses which are no longer trading.

The Small Business Bureau

Blacktown City’s Economic Development Strategy identifies the importance of micro/small business and its influence on the local economy. A key sub-service is dedicated to their ‘Small Business Bureau’. The below diagram from Council's strategy document illustrates the elements of their evolving service delivery for small business.

Active Services Council Currently Deliver

Since 2018, Council has been actively implementing several components of its Small Business Service. 3 examples below set out how this has been accomplished.

Business Training

Many micro/small businesses want to attend business training workshops close to their business operations and not have to travel out-of-area. Through the generous sponsorship of CGU Insurance, Council is running Year 1 of its Business Success Program. Click here for more information. 

Business Directory

In the previous edition of WSBC, Council presented their recently launched ‘Riverstone Schofields Business Finder'. This directory has been created, currently as a trial, to assist local micro/small businesses advertise their services to the local community in Riverstone Schofields. It is being developed to provide more information and details about these businesses, than alternative search devices.

Networks and Connections

As a member of the main business associations in Blacktown City, Council are able to stay closely connected with their business networks. They can also support them in their various activities. For example, they are currently collaborating with the Blacktown Business Network on their annual ‘Business Booster’ event as part of Small Business Month, in October.