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 don91裸聊视频檛 include businesses that have already closed due to COVID-19.

The CFIB has set up that tracks small businesses91裸聊视频� 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. That91裸聊视频檚 14 per cent of all small and medium businesses.

91裸聊视频淪mall businesses are big players in our economy, so minimizing business losses is critical to recovery,91裸聊视频� said Laura Jones, executive vice-president at CFIB.

91裸聊视频淩ight now both government support and consumer behaviour are critical to transitioning back to conditions that allow businesses to survive and thrive.91裸聊视频�

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 haven91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淚n sectors like hospitality, those regions will be harder hit, compared to sectors like agriculture and construction,91裸聊视频� said Jones. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 been a bigger factor than geography.91裸聊视频�

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 CFIB91裸聊视频檚 estimates.

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Jones added that while some government support has been useful to businesses, there91裸聊视频檚 a key section of their recovery plan being left out 91裸聊视频� rent.

91裸聊视频淥ne in three businesses are saying that rent support is missing,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 been a lot of shopping that91裸聊视频檚 shifted to larger businesses like Walmart and Amazon,91裸聊视频� said Jones. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檇 really like for that to shift back and for consumers to support their local small businesses.91裸聊视频�

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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