More New Zealand businesses go corporate

More New Zealand businesses go corporate

26 October 2017

A growing proportion of businesses are limited-liability companies and fewer are sole proprietors, Stats NZ said today.

A limited-liability company means personal taxes are separated from business taxes and personal assets are (typically) not at risk.

Of a total 528,170 enterprises, more than half (56 percent) were registered limited-liability companies at February 2017. Ten years ago (at February 2007), only 47 percent of businesses were limited-liability companies.

In contrast, individual proprietorships and partnerships, which are simpler forms of business, both accounted for a lower 28 percent of enterprises at February 2017. This was a significant 10-point drop from a 38 percent share these two business types together had 10 years ago.

“This drop closely corresponds to the share gained by registered limited-liability companies,” business register manager Mary Reid said. “It’s an indication that more New Zealand businesses now now prefer to operate under a corporate legal structure as opposed to non-corporate arrangements.’

At February 2017, registered limited-liability companies employed 71 percent of all staff in New Zealand.

Other business types (at February 2017):
• 65,480 enterprises operating as trusts/estates
• 10,210 societies and associations (incorporated and unincorporated)
• 3,880 charitable trusts
• a total of 3,220 central or local government organisations (their trading entities included) that employed 389,100.

Note: Business demography statistics only cover economically significant enterprises operating in New Zealand. These are mostly those with an annual GST turnover of $30,000 or more.

Find more data analysed by business type on NZ.Stat.

Classification of business type has a more detailed description of the classification.

• Visit New Zealand Business Demography Statistics: At February 2017

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