Business age

Burleigh businesses had a median age of 10 years (formed 1997; M= 14.3 years; SD= 15.9 years). Age ranged from less than six months old (2007) to 120 years (1887). Just over a quarter (28.8%) of businesses were formed in the last five years, with 52.9% more than 10 years old and 22.9% more than 20 years old.

Head office location

One hundred and eleven of the 120 Burleigh businesses surveyed (92.5%) had their head office located on the Gold Coast. A smaller number were located elsewhere in South East Queensland (3.3%), interstate (3.3%) or elsewhere in Queensland (0.8%). No businesses surveyed had their head office located outside Australia.

Business size

For the Burleigh PIC precinct, the median business size by number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees was 3.50 (Mean=6.84).

Annual revenue for 98.0% of businesses in 2005-06 was $10 million or less. Over half (51.0%) of businesses had an annual revenue of $450 thousand or less.

More than two thirds of Burleigh businesses (70.94%) predicted no change to staff levels for the following year. Twenty-three Burleigh businesses (19.7%) predicted an increase in staff levels, the remaining eleven businesses (9.4%) predicted a decrease in staff.

Sources of business inputs (purchases)

The following chart shows the mean percentage of business inputs from each source.

The highest proportion (57.53%) of business inputs was purchased from within the Gold Coast. Another 16.64% was purchased from within SEQ, but outside the Gold Coast. Just 3.11% was purchased from elsewhere in Queensland. A further 16.14% was purchased interstate and 6.58% was purchased overseas.

A third of businesses (32.8%) sourced 25% or less of their inputs from within the Gold Coast and 42.9% sourced 50% or less of their inputs from within the Gold Coast. Almost half of businesses (48.7%) sourced 75% or more of their inputs from the Gold Coast, with 24.4% reporting that 100% of their inputs were from the Gold Coast.

Eight in ten businesses (79.8%) sourced 25% or less of their inputs from outside the Gold Coast, but from within South East Queensland and 88.2% sourced 50% or less of their inputs from outside the Gold Coast, but from within South East Queensland.

Almost all businesses (95.0%) sourced 25% or less of their inputs from elsewhere in Queensland, with two businesses (1.7%) sourcing more than 40% from elsewhere in Queensland, and 1.7% reporting that 100% of their inputs were from interstate. Four Burleigh businesses (3.4%) reported that 100% of their business inputs were from outside Australia.

Destination of business outputs (sales)

The following chart shows the mean percentage of business outputs by destination.

The highest proportion (74.58%) of sales was derived from within the Gold Coast. Another 7.12% was derived from within SEQ, but outside the Gold Coast, while 5.0% was derived from elsewhere in Queensland. A further 11.57% was interstate and 1.73% was derived overseas.

Almost seven in ten businesses (69.2%) reported that 5% or less of their total revenue was derived from interstate, with 12.5% of businesses deriving 50% or more of their total revenue from interstate.

Export activity

Approximately one in eleven Burleigh businesses surveyed (8.3%) reported deriving trading revenue from overseas. For those that exported, the median proportion of total revenue gained from exports was 15% (All businesses= 0%) and the mean proportion was 20.8% (All businesses=1.7%).

Revenue for those exporting varied moderately (Range 3-50%; SD=17.3%; All businesses-Range 0-50%; SD=7.5%). Half of the exporting businesses reported that revenue from exports was 20% or more of their total revenue, and 20% reported that 50% of their total revenue was from exports.

The main export destinations were the New Zealand and Pacific region (54.5% of exporting businesses) and North America (36.4% of exporting businesses).

Appendix

Where is the head office located?

Including those owners engaged in its day-to-day activities, how many employees are currently employed in this business?

(*35 or more hours per week;

FTE=1xFT + 0.5xPT + 0.25xCas + Contractors)

In the financial year 2005-06, approximately what percentage of your business inputs/purchases were sourced from:

In financial year 2005-2006, approximately what percentage of your business outputs/sales were distributed:

What % of your total sales is made up of export sales?

Mean=1.73%

If business outputs/sales were derived from outside Australia, to which countries do you export?

In the 2005-2006 Financial Year, what was the approximate trading revenue for your Gold Coast business?

Source: Key findings from the business survey undertaken by Economic Development earlier this year.