A survey done by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) found that more than 21,000 small businesses in B.C. are at risk of closing.

These numbers donB次元官网网址檛 include businesses that have already closed due to COVID-19.

The CFIB has set up that tracks small businessesB次元官网网址� recovery throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. According to their data, in B.C. only 64 per cent of small businesses are fully open, only 32 per cent of fully staffed, and just 27 per cent are recording normal sales.

The survey, completed by over 5,000 CFIB members, also showed that one in seven small businesses in Canada are at risk of going under. ThatB次元官网网址檚 14 per cent of all small and medium businesses.

B次元官网网址淪mall businesses are big players in our economy, so minimizing business losses is critical to recovery,B次元官网网址� said Laura Jones, executive vice-president at CFIB.

B次元官网网址淩ight now both government support and consumer behaviour are critical to transitioning back to conditions that allow businesses to survive and thrive.B次元官网网址�

CFIB estimates that business closures in B.C. due to COVID-19 will range from the low end of 6,395 (4 per cent), to the high-end estimate of 28,920 (16 per cent). A medium range for this estimate is shows that over 21,116 (12 per cent) are at risk.

While CFIB said that they havenB次元官网网址檛 analyzed the breakdown between rural and urban small businesses, they say that business sectors have been a bigger factor in how well a business is currently doing.

B次元官网网址淚n sectors like hospitality, those regions will be harder hit, compared to sectors like agriculture and construction,B次元官网网址� said Jones. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 been a bigger factor than geography.B次元官网网址�

Jones and the CFIB know that business closures are inevitable. Their hope and goal is that government can help bring those closures to the lower range of the CFIBB次元官网网址檚 estimates.

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Jones added that while some government support has been useful to businesses, thereB次元官网网址檚 a key section of their recovery plan being left out B次元官网网址� rent.

B次元官网网址淥ne in three businesses are saying that rent support is missing,B次元官网网址� said Jones.

While government support will be key in recovery for small and medium-sized businesses, consumers will play a large role in helping keep these establishments open.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 been a lot of shopping thatB次元官网网址檚 shifted to larger businesses like Walmart and Amazon,B次元官网网址� said Jones. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 really like for that to shift back and for consumers to support their local small businesses.B次元官网网址�

The methodology for the study shows a margin of error of plus or minus 1.3 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

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