The Latest Small Business Owner Insights from Xero

Welcome to this weeks’ episode of The Australian Small Business Show!

Today we are unpacking the results of a recent report produced by Xero called ‘It’s Your Business – How Entrepreneurs are Redefining Their Success in Today’s World’.

There are 2.6m small businesses in Australia, making up 97% of all businesses, contributing $590bn to GDP and employing 5.4m people.

Xero surveyed 500 Australian small business owners for this survey and the findings were really interesting. We really enjoyed unpacking some of the key concepts and findings in this discussion.

Entrepreneur Archetypes

The research identifies three main archetypes:

Lifestyle Entrepreneurs (47%)

Motivated by freedom, work-life balance, and doing work they enjoy. Success= time with family, flexibility, and meaningful work.

Ambitious Achievers (30%)

Motivated by growth, brand-building, and financial independence. Success = scaling fast, creating legacies, building household names.

Situational Founders (23%)

Motivated by circumstance (redundancy, migration, lack of jobs). Success = stability, independence, and serving their communities.

Success, Goals & Gaps

Most entrepreneurs feel successful (96% say they are or on the way), but:

Only 31% have an endgame (succession or exit strategy).

Nearly half (49%) lack long-term goals beyond 3 years.

43% don’t have a succession plan – leaving future continuity at risk.

Power of Advisory & Support Networks

86% of entrepreneurs use an advisor (accountant, bookkeeper, coach). Those who do: 62% reported revenue growth (vs 37% without) and 74% feel confident running their business (vs 53% without).

Advisors influence more than compliance – trust, emotional support, strategy, tech adoption, and HR guidance.

Beyond advisors, owners rely on Google, peers, and family/friends for advice – not always reliable.

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* Disclaimer: The information shared on The Australian Small Business Show is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice, legal or otherwise. We recommend consulting with your advisors on your specific circumstances.