(9 August 2010−Australia) Over two thirds of Australian small business owners believe that their operations are still in as much danger as they were in the middle of the GFC, according to a survey undertaken by the Bank of Queensland.According to the BOQ Straight Talk Survey, a regular nation-wide survey that canvasses the views and experiences of small business owners, Queensland was the worst impacted state with 66 percent of respondents believing their business was no better off post-GFC.
The bank’s group executive of banking, David Marshall, said the survey had found that small businesses did not see themselves as ‘out of the woods’ just yet.
Despite the introduction of stimulus measures and a general sense that the economy is improving, the small business community doesn’t feel like they’ve turned the corner just yet, Mr Marshall added.
Despite this result small business were still overwhelmingly positive about their future outlook.
The good news is that overall, small business owners feel optimistic about their future, with only 16 percent saying they do not feel positive about what lies ahead, Mr Marshall highlighted.
This very encouraging result indicates that many small businesses believe that although the recovery is as yet incomplete, it will continue to improve, Mr Marshall added.