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Australian SMEs are still chasing growth

But the landscape is shifting.

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What’s changed for Australian businesses in just six months?
New for 2026, SME Compass Pulse provides a real-time snapshot of how Australian SMEs are performing, adapting and planning for growth in a rapidly changing environment.

Building on the foundations of Banjo's annual SME Compass research, this new mid-year report captures the latest sentiment from SME business owners across Australia. It explores what's driving growth, where confidence is shifting, how businesses are responding to rising costs, and the challenges shaping decision-making for the months ahead.
Why a mid-year pulse check?
A lot can change in a few months.

That's why Banjo created SME Compass Pulse - a mid-year check-in designed to understand how Australian SMEs are tracking and what's changed since the beginning of 2026.
The report reveals how businesses are responding to new pressures, where they're investing for growth, and how their outlook has evolved in just a short period of time.

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Hear from Banjo CEO Guy Callaghan and Chief Commercial Officer Brendan Widdowson on why we launched SME Compass Pulse and what the findings reveal about the state of Australia's SME economy.
Inside the report
How Australian SMEs are performing midway through 2026, where optimism remains strong, and where confidence is starting to soften.
The biggest challenges facing businesses today, including inflation, fuel and freight costs, wage pressures, legislative change and cash flow uncertainty.
How growth plans and investment priorities are evolving, with businesses increasingly focused on technology, productivity and smarter ways to grow.
Emerging trends in late payments, cash flow resilience and funding behaviour that could shape the year ahead.
How business experiences differ across industries, locations and business sizes, and what it could mean for your business or clients.

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Join the SME Compass Pulse webinar
The SME Compass Pulse Unpacked webinar will be presented by Guy Callaghan, CEO, and Brendan Widdowson, CCO, on 20 October. They'll bring the data to life, unpack the key findings, and discuss what's on the horizon for Australian SMEs.
Register now

Get your copy of
SME Compass Pulse 2026

Understand how Australia's SME sector is navigating 2026 and benchmark your business or clients against the challenges, opportunities and trends shaping the market today.

Why is this report so relevant right now?

Hear how the SME Compass Report is informing future business thinking from business owners, brokers and a credit executive.
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