By Eugene Maslov, Founder and Finance Broker at Lendr360
Published 23 September 2026 · Last reviewed 24 September 2026
At 30 June 2026, Australia had 2,814,778 actively trading businesses. Of these, 996,203 employed staff, leaving 1,818,575—or 64.6%—classified as non-employing businesses.
That means nearly two-thirds of actively trading Australian businesses operate without employees.
A large part of the economy operates lean
A non-employing business is not necessarily inactive or insignificant. This group includes many owner-operated businesses, independent contractors and businesses that use external suppliers rather than permanent employees.
These businesses may have no payroll, but they can still manage substantial revenue, equipment, vehicles, stock, tax obligations and operating expenses.
No employees does not mean no finance needs
An owner-operator may still need a vehicle to visit customers, machinery to complete work, equipment to increase capacity or additional cash flow to manage the timing between expenses and customer payments.
The right decision depends on the purpose of the purchase, the expected benefit to the business and whether repayments remain manageable during quieter periods.
A lower staff count does not automatically mean a simpler business. With fewer people involved, one unexpected expense or delayed payment can place greater pressure on the owner and the business’s available cash.
Structure finance around the business
Before committing to a vehicle, equipment purchase or other major expense, consider:
- How the asset will support revenue or reduce operating costs.
- Whether the business should preserve cash for tax and everyday expenses.
- How repayments would be managed during slower periods.
- Whether the finance term matches the useful life of the asset.
If you operate a business without employees and are considering your next vehicle, equipment purchase or cash-flow requirement, speak with Lendr360 about the business finance options that may be available for your circumstances.
General information only. Finance availability and terms depend on the applicant, asset, lender requirements and individual circumstances.
Sources and further reading
The ABS reports 2,814,778 actively trading businesses and 996,203 employing businesses at 30 June 2026. Subtracting those figures gives 1,818,575 non-employing businesses, or approximately 64.6%.