SME Economy in the Limelight

11 March 2014

SME Economy in the Limelight

• SMEs expecting bumper year – almost half forecasting revenue growth
• Christchurch outstripping Auckland
• Manufacturing posts remarkable turnaround

The SME sector can take a bow as a major contributor to New Zealand’s ‘rockstar economy’, according to the latest research data from leading accounting software provider, MYOB.

The March MYOB Business Monitor, released today, highlights that New Zealand’s small and medium businesses have enjoyed the highest levels of annual revenue growth seen in more than four years. It also shows expectations are for an even better 12 months ahead.

35% reported revenue growth in the year to February 2014 – up five percentage points on the August 2013 Monitor. 42% saw steady revenue, while just 21% reported a fall.

Looking ahead to 2014, 47% of operators expect their revenue to improve – up four percentage points on August. 38% expect it to remain the same and just 11% expect a fall.

MYOB CEO Tim Reed says, “This latest MYOB Business Monitor highlights the importance of the role SMEs have played in the country’s recovery and continue to play in its future growth. The hard work and resilience of New Zealand’s SME sector, the very coalface of the economy, is now bearing fruit in the strongest growth we have seen in almost five years.”

Widespread growth
“Much of the public focus has been on the effects of the Christchurch rebuild, the performance of our major exporters and the housing markets on the growth in the economy. These factors are clearly evident in the survey, however there is plenty of positivity in other areas.”

Mr Reed points in particular to the ‘remarkable’ turnaround in the country’s manufacturing sector, saying, “Just over a year ago, many commentators were expressing alarm at what they saw as a crisis in the New Zealand manufacturing industry. Yet in the last 12 months, our local manufacturers have seen more revenue growth than any other sector, and in 2014, they expect to do even better.”

According to the survey, 53% of manufacturing businesses saw revenue improve in the 12 months to February 2014, while only 14% reported a fall in revenue. 70% expect revenue to rise over the next 12 months and just 1% expect a fall.

“In looking across the industries, only the country’s retail and hospitality sector has continued to struggle, with revenue falls – 33% – outweighing gains – 30%,” said Mr Reed.

“Having said that, this sector has seen steady improvement in the last six months and is confident of a positive 2014, with half expecting to see revenue growth.”

Main Centre performance

Sector performance

Fuel prices still weighing on businesses
Consistent with previous Monitor reports, the cost of fuel remains the number one pressure faced by local SMEs. A quarter believe it will place significant pressure on their operation in the year ahead. Interest rates are seen as the next biggest concern, followed by cash flow, price margins and competitive activity – ranked an equal third by business operators.

2014 pressures on SMEs:
1. Fuel prices - 25%
2. Interest rates - 22%
3. Cash flow; Price margins and profitability; Competitive activity - 21% apiece

Wages and prices on the up
The next challenge for the country could be rising inflation, as upward pressure moves on both wages and prices. Almost a quarter (23%) of SMEs expect to increase wages this year, while 11% will increase the number of full time employees (FTEs) in the business, and 18% the number of part timers (PTEs).

“We are now seeing a growing number of employers considering taking on more full and part time employees, and noticeably more preparing to increase wage and salary levels,” says Mr Reed.

“Once again it is manufacturing leading the way, with 28% expecting to increase FTEs and 35% PTEs, and 30% expecting to raise wages.”

He says the pressures of the rebuild on the Christchurch employment market, already showing the lowest levels of unemployment in the country, may become more acute in 2014.

“19% of Christchurch SMEs would like to increase their full time staff this year, and 18% the number of part time employees. To no doubt help attract them, more than a third – 34% – will increase wages.

“For consumers across the country, some of these costs will be offset by rising prices, as 30% of SMEs intend to increase their margins in the coming year. This is most evident in Christchurch, where 35% intend to put prices up, and in the construction and trades sector, where 38% plan to.”

Maximising opportunities
“Overall, what we are seeing is a picture of sustained and widespread growth over most of New Zealand’s SME sector. This is really going to be their time in the sun,” says Mr Reed.

“Of course, growth is not without challenge, and as a smaller business operator you don’t want to be looking back over 2014 feeling like you missed opportunities or failed to make the most of a booming economy. Things are really looking up and if you aren’t investing now I suggest stopping in your tracks and reassessing your plans.

“Our advice remains: work closely with your financial advisors and use effective business systems to explore all the available opportunities. At the same time, keep a very close eye on performance indicators to ensure costs are not running away on you as you seek to meet growing demand. And celebrate your successes!”

For MYOB product information, research results, business tips, discussions, client service and more visit the MYOB website, or its blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube sites.

About the MYOB Business Monitor
The MYOB Business Monitor is a national survey of 1,000+ New Zealand small and medium business owners and managers, from sole traders to mid-sized companies, representing the major industry sectors. It has run since 2009, commissioned to independent market research firm Colmar Brunton. This most recent survey ran late January/early February 2013. The Monitor researches business performance and attitudes in areas such as profitability, cash flow, pipeline, technology usage and the government. The weighting of respondents by both geographical location and sector is based on overall market proportions as established by Statistics New Zealand and is drawn from an independent survey group, which includes both MYOB clients and non-clients.

About MYOB
Established in 1991, MYOB is New Zealand’s leading accounting software provider. It makes life easier for approx. 1.2 million businesses across New Zealand and Australia, by simplifying accounting, payroll, tax, practice management, CRM, websites, job costing, inventory and more. MYOB also provides ongoing support via many client service channels including a network of over 40,000 accountants, bookkeepers and other consultants. It is committed to ongoing innovation, particularly in cloud computing solutions, and now spends NZ$35+ million annually on research and development. For more information, visit myob.co.nz.

ENDS

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