Recognise enterprising women in small and family business by removing bias and barriers

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, gives recognition and applauds women in small and family business ahead of International Women’s Day.  

“More than half a million Australian women say their main job is running a small business, representing 35 per cent of small business owners – the same share as across all business owners nationally, according to the ABS Census. 

“This represents a profound shift. In 1966, women accounted for just 19 per cent of business owners. Today, women are starting, leading and sustaining businesses across every sector and every region of the country. This progress deserves recognition, and it also demands action,” said Mr Billson. 

The Ombudsman said women are building businesses across Australia however, the systems around them have not kept pace with their lived experience. 

“When we asked women owned and led businesses about their prospects, just over half reported strong opportunities for growth. At the same time, only five per cent said they faced no barriers to growing their business,” said Mr Billson. 

Access to finance can be a challenge for many small business owners, but women continue to encounter structural obstacles. 

“Access to capital remains the most commonly reported barrier. Some reported being advised to add a male to their loan application in order for business finance to be approved, and this is a clear signal that bias persists in parts of the system. 

“Women also highlighted the dual responsibility of running a business while caring for others as a significant and often invisible constraint. These pressures are particularly pronounced in regional Australia, where access to services and support can be limited,” said Mr Billson. 

Unconscious bias was repeatedly identified as a barrier to growth.  

“Many women reported being judged against a narrow and outdated view of what a ‘typical’ business owner looks like, with assumptions that they are distracted by responsibilities and priorities outside their business. These assumptions can limit access to finance, government procurement and other opportunities critical to business growth,” said Mr Billson. 

The Ombudsman said across these experiences, one consistent finding emerged – women value mentors, advisers and systems that recognise the diversity of their business journeys. 

“Rather than outdated assumptions about who a business owner should be, or one size fits all models that assume a single pathway to success, policy, finance and support systems need to adapt to how women actually do business,” said Mr Billson.  

Despite the barriers, women business owners remain optimistic. The recent Australian Social Attitudes Survey found that seventy per cent of female business owners say Australia is a good place to start a business. 

“International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the vital contribution women make to Australia’s small business economy. 

“This year’s ‘Balance the scales’ theme reinforces a simple expectation that women should be safe, heard, and free to shape their own lives. In this context, to ensure women in small and family business are heard, policy settings should reflect the realities of the women in small and family business. That means fair access to capital, removing structural barriers and outdated assumptions, designing policy and finance systems to how women do business.” Mr Billson added. 

MEDIA CONTACT: 0448 467 178 / www.asbfeo.gov.au