Xero Small Business Index
The Small Business Index, part of Xero Small Business Insights provides a regular, easy to understand reading on the overall state of small businesses in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. One key figure will show improvements or declines in the performance of small businesses relative to the previous month. To understand more about this single index approach, check out this video, read a more in-depth explanation here and the methodology of the index here.
Read the latest updates
Download the latest updates – you can get data in spreadsheet form, including details about terms of use, or charts as images.
For any questions, please contact xsbi@xero.com
A step change in technology adoption and use
In an increasingly connected world, understanding how digital technologies can support small businesses achieve their potential, as well as boost economic growth and productivity overall is of critical importance. Firstly for the benefit of small business owners to ensure their ventures flourish, but also for those that aim to support them, from their advisors to policy makers, government and big business.
Xero has produced two reports showing a left brain and right brain approach to the issue of boosting technology adoption and use by small businesses:
The first showing how applying insights from behavioural science can ensure a greater engagement with technology. The second showing the data based evidence for the benefits of technology adoption.


The human barriers to technology adoption
Xero has harnessed the power of behavioural science to produce a global landmark study on the behavioural barriers small businesses face in adopting technology and how to help them to overcome these.
Download the report
Recent trends in technology use
The COVID-19 crisis boosted technology take-up and use by small businesses. This Xero Small Business Insights paper quantifies technology spending and app usage of Xero subscribers across countries, industries and business sizes, highlighting the benefits of technology to small businesses.
Download the reportXero Small Business Insights Special Reports
Take a deep dive into small business with data that reveals unique insights and analysis.

Jobs report
This report looks at how small business jobs were affected by the pandemic. It looks at five of the key economies where Xero operates (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States) and at what stage of the job recovery they’re currently in.
Download report
Pandemic insights
This report shows what has happened to small businesses in NZ, Australia and the UK, as well as a look at North America and Asia from the onset of the pandemic until now. These early lessons can help guide government policy over the coming months so it supports the small business recovery around the world.
Download report
Emotional Metrics
Our September 2020 paper goes beyond the numbers and statistics by highlighting the emotional state of mind of small business owners around the world. By understanding their sentiment and well being during this crisis period, there can be better support to manage the human impact of this pandemic.
Download reportAll articles small business insights
Research note - wage trends 31 March 2022
Update: The job ahead - research note 14 October 2021
Government support, the COVID-19 crisis and zombie firms 22 July 2021
Australia’s Federal Budget focuses on securing the recovery 29 May 2021
Supporting small business recovery with XSBI 5 May 2021
Keep calm and carry on supporting small business 28 October 2020
Blog - Inflation 26 May 2022
Blog - Interest rates 28 April 2022
Blog - Increasing use of fast data 31 March 2022
Blog - Trends in jobs creators and downsizers 17 February 2022
Blog - Four trends small businesses need to know 29 January 2022
Blog - Technology use - benefits and barriers 6 December 2021
Blog - Restrictions shift small business outlooks 29 July 2021
Blog - What we learnt about 'next' from Budgets 8 June 2021
Blog - Small business benefits of going digital 8 June 2021
Multimedia
To understand more about Xero’s Small Business Index and the measures that support it, watch the video below.

Good days and bad days
Small business is not always smooth sailing. There are good days and bad days which is a normal part of the business journey. A key insight is to understand the mindset of small business owners, what they do to overcome those dark days to get to the good ones. We spoke to small business owners around the world to get a better understanding and found the common trait amongst them is their adaptability.