A1 Size and features of SMEs GapFill

The number of members of staff in an SME varies, depending on the business size. For example, a micro SME will have up to  100201510 members of staff. An SME is considered to be small if the number of members of staff is between  10115020 and 49. A medium-sized SME will have up to  300250500249 members of staff. 

Ownership of SMEs will vary, but is unlikely to include  partnershipPlcLtdsole trader. Due to the risks involved in setting up a new enterprise, many smaller ones may have started life as a  side hustlecharitypartnershipfranchise. Once the entrepreneur is confident the new enterprise can create enough revenue to support them, they may then focus on it full time and aim to grow. For micro SMEs providing products and not services, the confidence of customers to order online means it is an advantage to invest in  a professional website accepting online ordersone social media platformstaffcomputers as they can increase their customer base without having to acquire new  advertising campaignspremisesstafflogos in order to reach customers in a different  grouptime zoneoccupationlocation. 

SMEs may exist in more than one economic  sectorgrouperalocation such as both secondary and  locationin persontertiaryonline. An example would be a furniture maker who has a workshop behind a shopfront, where customers can visit to buy the products. A farm shop selling vegetables and eggs is an example of an SME being in both  primary and tertiaryrural and townprimary and secondarysecondary and tertiary sectors.