One of the main goals for small businesses in the new year is growth, according to a global survey of SMEs.
Peninsula Group conducted a survey of 79,000 SMEs across five countries – Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK – to see what the top priorities and concerns were for employers in 2025.
Growth is the main business goal for 47.2% of SMEs; up from 44.7% this time last year. Businesses in Ireland and New Zealand are least optimistic, with only 36% and 34.1% respectively listing it as one of their top goals for the year ahead.
While this may seem optimistic, almost a quarter of all respondents globally (23.3%) are just hoping to survive the year ahead, up from 20% this time last year.
The UK and Ireland are least optimistic. The UK jumped from 18.8% last year to 26% this year, while Ireland increased from 18.8% to 25.6%.
