Australian small businesses ended 2025 with solid momentum, recording their strongest sales, employment growth, and getting paid faster in two years, according to the latest Xero Small Business Insights (XSBI) data.
The December quarter update, which analyses anonymised and aggregated data from 520,000 Australian small businesses, shows performance in the sector continued to strengthen leading into 2026. This positive momentum could be at risk following the RBA’s latest interest rate increase in February.
December quarter at a glance:
- Sales growth rose 6.7% y/y – the best result in over two years, peaking in December with a 9.6% y/y increase
- Jobs growth rose 3.4% y/y – the strongest performance in two years
- Small businesses were paid on average in 23.9 days – the fastest recorded since XSBI started in 2017
- Wages rose just 2.0% in the quarter largely due to a holiday-impacted weak December result (+0.5% y/y), which is likely to be revised up in future releases
- Queensland had the highest sales growth in the country with a 8.3% y/y increase, followed closely by South Australia (+7.8% y/y)
- By industry, construction (+9.5% y/y), health care (+9.3% y/y), and real estate (+8.6% y/y) sales outperformed the national average
RBA decision could impact small business economy momentum
Small business sales grew 6.7% y/y in the December quarter, the largest quarterly rise since June 2023. This acceleration was particularly evident in December, which saw a 9.6% y/y surge – the largest monthly increase since early 2024, reflecting the positive impact of earlier 2025 interest rate cuts on consumer spending.
The growth flowed through to the workforce, with jobs increasing 3.4% y/y – the strongest result since late 2023.
“Small businesses worked hard to find their footing in late 2025, reaching sales and employment levels we haven’t seen in two years,” said Louise Southall, Xero Economist. “However the February cash rate hike is a reminder of the fragile environment these owners operate in. As the RBA moves to address rising inflation again, the momentum we saw in December will be tested. Small businesses will need to remain disciplined to navigate the potential impact on consumer spending over the coming months.”
Small businesses getting paid faster than ever
In the December quarter, small businesses were paid in an average of 23.9 days – the fastest quarterly payment time since the XSBI series began in January 2017.
Late payment times also saw a slight improvement, dropping to an average of 6.6 days from 6.7 days in the previous quarter.
“Yes, we’re seeing the fastest payment times on record — but let’s be clear: small businesses are still being paid almost a week late. That means they’re effectively financing their larger customers and, when you’re running on tight margins, being paid six or seven days late isn’t an inconvenience — it’s the difference between investing in growth and covering payroll,” said Angad Soin, Managing Director ANZ & Global Chief Strategy Officer at Xero.
“Cash flow discipline is becoming non-negotiable. With Payday Super on the horizon, owners need real-time visibility over their cash position and the confidence to forecast ahead.”
Construction and health care trend upwards, discretionary industries stall
Construction (+9.5% y/y) and health care (+9.3% y/y) saw the strongest sales growth, however the end-of-year period was more subdued for retail (+4.7% y/y) and hospitality (+3.5% y/y), both of which were below the national average of 6.7%.
“Black Friday is fast becoming the biggest sales moment of the year, but our data shows smaller retailers aren’t necessarily winning from it. In November, sales growth slowed to just 3.3 per cent — the weakest result since April 2025, suggesting discount-driven periods are amplifying the divide between big retailers with pricing power and small businesses competing on thin margins. For many small retailers, sales events now drive volume but not always profitability.”
The construction (+5.3% y/y) and health care (+5.7% y/y) industries also led the hiring charge, signaling that owners in these sectors felt confident enough to expand their teams.