The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (Cosboa) has kicked off its 2026 Small Business Perspectives Survey, turning the spotlight squarely on regional, rural, and remote businesses.
The survey aims to capture the realities of running a small business outside Australia’s capital cities, a perspective often lost in national policy debates. It covers everything from business performance and workforce challenges to housing, childcare, digital connectivity, energy costs, and disaster recovery.
Cosboa CEO Skye Cappuccio said strong regional participation is vital to ensuring national reforms reflect the realities on the ground.
“Running a small business in regional Australia can be fundamentally different to operating in a capital city,” Cappuccio said.
“Workforce shortages, constrained housing supply, service gaps, connectivity limitations, disaster recovery and the cost of doing business can have amplified impacts in regional and remote communities.”
The results will feed into Cosboa’s annual Small Business Perspectives Report and shape discussions with government, regulators, and policymakers throughout this year.
“This survey ensures that when we engage with decision-makers, we do so with independently gathered data drawn directly from business owners themselves,” Cappuccio added.
“Regional small businesses sustain local economies and communities across Australia. Their experience must be clearly represented in the national policy conversation.”
The 2026 survey closes on April 30.
