Small Business, Big Value
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Small Business, Big Value
Full Report
Aneliese Debus, Research Analyst
Small businesses are highly respected and recognized for their contribution to Canadian economy and society. Canadians think owning a small business is rewarding while entrepreneurs see both the benefits and the challenges of owning a business in Canada.
Introduction
Small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) are essential to Canadian society and its economy. SMEs play a role in shaping local communities, creating new jobs and serving consumers. Collectively, they generate close to half of Canadian GDP, according to a CFIB estimate based on National Accounts data. Small and mid-sized establishments, with fewer than 500 employees, represent 97 per cent of all Canadian businesses and employ 56 per cent of all workers.
To determine Canadians’ attitudes towards SMEs and to analyze the impediments and incentives to the expansion of entrepreneurship in Canada, Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co. commissioned polls of the general public and individual business owners. The public opinion polls, which included respondents from across Canada, were developed with the assistance of CFIB and conducted online by Ipsos Reid in August 2007.
This study is divided in two parts, each one using a different survey questionnaire and a separate sample of respondents. The first part of the study is based on a public opinion poll on entrepreneurship that was conducted with
the general public. The objective was to gain asense of the opinions of Canadians towards small businesses and entrepreneurs. The second part is based on a survey of small business owners, shedding light on both the benefits and challenges associated with owning a small business.
