Nearly half of Irish SMEs report rising costs – SFA Survey 2025

A new survey by the Small Firms Association (SFA) reveals that 49% of small businesses experienced increased costs in the past year, with labour and rent among the top pressures. Average cost increases were 11.7%, while borrowing has significantly declined—only 13% accessed credit, down from 40% last year. Alarmingly, 54% say they can't trade beyond six months without funding. The SFA is urging urgent government action ahead of Budget 2026.

Explore the full SFA survey results here.