Business operator(s)
There is no standard definition of a small business operator and other ABS publications do not use the term, or provide statistics about small business operators as a group. However, the expression 'small business operator' is one that is often used in research and policy debate and is generally taken to include the following group of people:
The person or persons who own and run the business. Generally these business operators can be identified as:
- the proprietor of a sole proprietorship
- the partners of a partnership
- the working director(s) of an incorporated company.
Computer
Includes personal computers (PCs), laptops, note books, mainframes and mini-computers.
Email
Electronic mail is a facility which allows network users to exchange messages (including text and attachments).
Full-time (work)
Employed persons who usually worked 35 hours or more a week (in all jobs) and those who, although usually working less than 35 hours a week, worked 35 hours or more during the reference week.
Home based businesses
Where the person(s) usually conducts most of their work at or from their residential address. Refer also to Chapter 4 - Introduction, for additional clarification.
Internet
A world-wide collection of computers which are linked together to form a repository of stored information and to provide a range of communication services. These services include, but are not limited to, the World Wide Web (www), Internet Electronic Data Interchange and Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP).
Operated at home
A home based business where most of the work of the business was carried out at the home(s) of the operator(s).
Operated from home
A home based business where the business had no other premises owned or rented other than the home(s) of the operator(s).
Part-time (work)
Employed persons who usually worked less than 35 hours a week (in all jobs) and either did so during the reference week, or were not at work in the reference week.
Small business
Small businesses (excluding agricultural businesses) are those businesses employing less than 20 people. The categories presented in this publication are as follows:
- non-employing businesses - sole proprietors and partnerships without employees
- businesses with 1-4 employees
- businesses with 5-19 employees.
Together, these three groups form the small business category - those businesses employing less than 20 people.
Note that because operators of all incorporated businesses are considered employees of that corporation, all incorporated businesses will be classified as employing businesses.
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