Fast Movers SA 2009
Issue No. 50 - December/ /
SA ‘heaps good’ for business
by Jacqui Colwell and Jacqui Colwell
This is the fifth year BDO has surveyed entrants in the Fast Movers campaign. Despite 2009 being a time of economic uncertainty it was evident the businesses surveyed had weathered the GFC storm and were extremely optimistic about the future of doing business in South Australia.
The Fast Mover companies came from a broad range of industries.
As in previous years information technology was still top with 24% (up from 16% of respondents last year), while construction and the retail trade sectors made up 12%. Finance, Health & Communication services, Manufacturing and Transport & Storage were represented each with 8%. Other sectors represented included: Mining, Defence, Accommodation, Education and Personal & Other services.
The annual turnover for the Fast Movers once again ranged significantly from $200,000 to almost $987 Million. However, just over half of the Fast Movers turned over less than $4m in 2008-09.
More than 30% of Fast Movers in 2009 operated with less than 10 employees while 24% have more than 100 employees.
More than half (57.5%) did most of their business in SA; 30% did all of their business in SA. A third (32.5%) did most of their business interstate while only 10% conducted business overseas.
The people behind the businesses
This year more than 40 businesses, a selection of the nominated companies, were surveyed. These businesses all experienced significant growth but only 25 could make the Fast Movers index.
This year 75% of the survey respondents had established the business, while 25% were senior management in the business. The respondents ranged from their 30s to late 60s in age. More than 40% were born in the 1970s, 35% in the 1960s and the remainder in the 40s and 50s.
What do our respondents enjoy about running their business? Common responses were flexibility and the sense of achievement it gave them. Other responses included the challenge, autonomy, financial freedom, control, ...
