Free government support underpins small business optimism for second half of 2023, new research finds

59% of small business owners report positive outlook for the next six months.

8 out of 10 small businesses currently receiving free government Self-Employment Assistance support with Asuria would recommend the service to other small business owners.

 Small business owners benefitting from access to the government’s free Workforce Australia 
Self-Employment Assistance program are reporting fresh optimism about their prospects for the second half of 2023, following difficult conditions in the first half of the year which have led to a rise in the number of insolvencies.

A survey of small business owners enrolled in Asuria’s delivery of the Federal Government’s Workforce Australia Self-Employment Assistance program, found that 59% of respondents were either optimistic (45%) or very optimistic (14%) about their business prospects in the second half of 2023.

That’s despite operating conditions expected to remain tough for small business owners, with 50% of survey respondents saying the ability to find and retain suitable staff will either decline (11%) or remain the same (39%) in the second half of the year, while one in four small business owners (23%) do not believe that they have sufficient resources to meet staff challenges without outside support.

Bridging the gap between challenging business conditions and renewed optimism is the free coaching, advice, and support provided by the Federal Government’s Workforce Australia Self-Employment Assistance program, delivered by Asuria, with eight out of ten (79%) small business owners saying they would either strongly recommend (45%) or recommend (34%) the Workforce Australia Self-Employment Assistance program to other small businesses owners.

Maricar Robert, owner and proprietor of InflaMed app, says of her experience with the program:

 “One of the hardest things about running a small business is not knowing where to turn for expert advice when you need it most, which is exactly what my Asuria business Mentor is able to bring to the table.

“Just knowing that there’s someone there to bounce ideas off, provide impartial advice, and generally have your back, makes
those tough decisions and difficult days that bit more manageable.”

Con Kittos, Executive Chairman of Asuria, says of Asuria’s Workforce Australia Self-Employment Assistance program survey: “2023 has seen small business owners across the country have a hard time of it, with cost-of-living pressures and rising interest rates squeezing the bottom line for Australia’s entrepreneurs and the self-employed. 

“While there’s no one-size fits all magic solution, Asuria’s Business Mentors are on the ground offering one-to-one assistance at a time when it’s more important than ever for small businesses owners to know that they’re not alone when it comes to carving out a path to success.”

For more information on Asuria’s Self-Employment Assistance program and to schedule a call with a Business Mentor, click here.