Worldwide OfficesSmall business facts and stats
The Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland has just released its Voice of Small Business survey and it makes for fascinating reading. Both The Scotsman and Business 7 have picked up on the headline point that more than half of Scotland’s small business owners plan to grow their firms in 2012. FSB Policy Convenor Andy Willox OBE says that the report, ‘paints a robust picture of small businesses determined to succeed in a challenging climate’
Such confidence is encouraging for anyone who does business in Scotland but the survey has a lot more to offer. Reflecting the views of over a 1000 FSB members, it’s a great snapshot of not only the make-up of many Scottish small businesses but also a detailed insight into how they are owned, financed and what their ambitions are. There are sections on who the worst late payers are; what are the greatest barriers to applying for public sector contracts and, of course, lots of facts and figures on sources of finance.
Some of the more interesting facts and figures were that:
43 per cent of Scottish businesses are owned solely or mainly by men – compared to 19 per cent owned solely or mainly by women. However, younger businesses are more likely to be run by women.
21 per cent of respondents work from home, 39 per cent rent premises and 38 per cent own premises.
68 per cent are VAT registered, 30 per cent are not (the remainder are exempt). 44 per cent are limited companies and 34 per cent are sole traders.
