National Family Business Day: Celebrating the Heart of Local Communities

On Friday, 19 September, Australia and New Zealand celebrate National Family Business Day - an opportunity to recognise the huge contribution family-owned businesses make to our economies, workplaces, and communities.

From small local cafés and butchers through to well-known brands, family enterprises are the heartbeat of our towns and cities. They not only drive innovation and create jobs, but also give back through community sponsorships, local infrastructure, and grassroots initiatives that matter.

The impact of family-owned businesses

Family businesses aren't just a part of the economy – they are the foundation of it.

• In Australia, 70% of businesses are family-owned, employing around half the national workforce and generating an estimated $4.3 trillion in wealth.
• In New Zealand, 75% of businesses are run by families, employing three-quarters of the country's workforce.

This scale shows why supporting family-owned matters. Behind every small or large family business is a story of commitment, resilience, and strong community values.

Kennards Hire: built on family values

At Kennards Hire, we're proud to be part of this story. What began in Bathurst in 1948 has grown to more than 210 branches and over 2,000 team members across Australia and New Zealand.

Our guiding values – One Family, Fair Dinkum, Every Customer a Raving Fan, and Taking Hire Higher – remain at the heart of how we operate today. Whether you're hiring a concrete saw for a jobsite, a lawn mower for your backyard, or need a full-scale infrastructure site solution, you're supporting a family-owned business that puts customers and community first.

Connecting with National Tradie Day

This year, National Family Business Day sits alongside another important celebration: National Tradie Day. Tradies are the backbone of our industries – from builders and plumbers to electricians and landscapers – and many run their own family businesses.

By hiring equipment through Kennards Hire, whether it's construction gear, access equipment, or landscaping tools, you're not just getting the right tools for the job – you're helping support family businesses and tradies who keep our communities moving.

Choose family-owned, every day

Every purchase, hire, or service from a family-owned business makes a difference. It helps keep communities strong, fuels local jobs, and sustains values that put people first.

So, this National Family Business Day – and every day – choose family-owned. Because when family businesses and tradies thrive, our communities thrive too.

For more information, visit the Family Business Association website.