Small Business Survey Results: Challenges & Opportunities

Icehouse CE Olivia Blaylock is a member of the Small Business Advisory Group headed by Minister Bayly. The Minister requested feedback from the members to better gauge the New Zealand business landscape.

In response, we surveyed our Icehouse community to find out what challenges they face in their businesses and what opportunities they see on the horizon. Below is a summary of the findings:

The key challenges reflect widespread calls for clearer policies, workforce support, and reduced compliance burdens:

1. Economic Pressures: Rising costs, high taxes, cashflow issues, and difficulty securing funding.
2. Regulations & Compliance: High compliance costs, unclear or changing regulations, and inefficiencies in processes like immigration.
3. Workforce Challenges: Difficulty finding skilled employees, visa delays, and strict employment regulations.
4. Sales & Market Issues: Declining sales, tough competition, and finding value-driven clients.
5. Operational Hurdles: Scalability issues, poor infrastructure, and supply chain challenges.
6. Government Friction: Limited support, unpredictable policies, and slow institutional processes.
7. Technology & Marketing: Struggles with digital tools, brand building, and IT infrastructure.

Key Opportunities reflect a focus on innovation, sustainability, and scaling for future opportunities.

1. Growth: Expanding markets, increasing production, and diversification.
2. Innovation: Leveraging AI, sustainability, and advanced technologies.
3. Marketing: Boosting online presence and customer awareness.
4. Regional Development: Land use, infrastructure, and tourism opportunities.
5. Workforce: Hiring skilled talent and improving team dynamics.
6. International Expansion: Exporting and accessing global markets.