2025 Business Sentiment Survey
Survey Results: What’s Impacting NZ Business Owners
New Zealand’s business environment is shifting fast. The 2025 Business Sentiment Survey captures exactly where the pressure points are, where opportunities are beginning to emerge, and what it all means for the year ahead.
Now in its sixth year, the survey provides a grounded, real-world view of business performance across the country. If you want a clear understanding of how your own challenges compare with the wider market, this report is for you.
Here’s what stood out
Market conditions remain tough
84.8% of business owners expect changing market conditions to impact them over the next 12 months. While a few report cautious optimism, most still describe the environment as complex and highly competitive.
Customers are spending differently
81.4% of respondents said customer behaviour has changed, with buyers delaying purchases, shopping around on price, and expecting more value for less. Margin pressure is now a familiar challenge across most industries.
Cash flow and investment
71% of small businesses expect their cash flow to reduce either drastically or moderately during the next twelve-month period. Less than half (45.8%) of respondents think they will have adequate amounts to invest in plant, equipment and other assets during the next twelve months.
Recruitment and morale remain challenging
SMEs continue to struggle with recruiting skilled staff. Many report lower morale and higher uncertainty among teams as sales soften and workloads increase.
Confidence in government support remains low
Two-thirds of business owners (64.4%) believe current government support for SMEs is inadequate, and 86.4% say small businesses are not well represented at the central government level.
What’s next?
If these survey results have you thinking about your own business, we’d love to sit down with you for a complimentary 30-minute strategy chat, online or in person.
It’s simply a conversation with an experienced Business Advisor. No obligations, no hard sell, just practical advice and a chance to talk things through.
Here’s what it looks like:
- A confidential one-on-one chat with a local Advisor who understands how NZ SMEs really operate,
- A guided look at the parts of your business that matter most: finances, strategy, operations, people, and your own role,
- An easy space to talk about what’s working, what’s not, and what you’d like to improve.
It’s a great way to take advantage of some experienced support, without any pressure.
Start Your Journey Here
Let Advantage Business be your partner in unlocking your team’s full potential. Together, we’ll create a high-performing, motivated workforce that drives your business to new heights. Contact us today and embark on a transformative journey.