<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A retirement crisis hiding in plain sight could be coming for millions of Australians, with new research revealing a worrying lack of superannuation contributions among the country's smallest business owners.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a national survey of small business operators, most of whom ran businesses with four employees or fewer, AMP Bank found 55 per cent of respondents contributed "regularly" to their own super.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That means close to half of the owners in that sector do not, opting to prioritise reinvesting in their business or managing cash flow.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/diddy-update-sean-combs-found-not-guilty-on-most-serious-charges-in-sex-trafficking-trial/05f4fcdf-86cf-4d76-91d1-3090cb7da44c" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail after mixed verdict</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>By contrast, about 90 per cent of the Australian workforce receives guaranteed superannuation, now increased to 12 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Super contributions are not compulsory for the self-employed, and sole traders make up the majority of Australian business owners.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the neglect of super contributions is fuelling a growing retirement savings gap.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/potential-superannuation-crisis-looming-sole-traders-entrepreneurs/f9b13126-16b9-47cc-a151-d43fa23b1844" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/calls-for-male-childcare-workers-to-be-banned-after-sexual-assault-charges-melbourne/c73705cd-19ca-49c6-9b58-732bb72db06c" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Should men be banned from childcare work?</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>AMP's modelling showed that even $100 of super per week from age 30, assuming a 6 per cent annual return, would amount to more than $500,000 by age 65.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's understandable that many small business owners prioritise reinvesting in their business, which can mean super contributions fall by the wayside," AMP Bank GO director John Arnott said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In the early stages, cash flow is often tight – paying a wage, let alone contributing regularly to super, can be a real challenge."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/visas-australia-south-korean-family-in-melbourne-facing-deportation-over-document-error-plea-to-immigration-minister/fbe7e793-9a9f-4a63-a16a-ed0accae724e" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Melbourne family face being deported to South Korea over 'misunderstanding'</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2025/06/09/12/35/jobs-fastest-salary-growth-seek-data"><img alt="" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/FYlZWPbABFjUg5iL4vYmneogVls=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F94d6907f-876d-4f9b-ab86-3436aeab2e6d" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/FYlZWPbABFjUg5iL4vYmneogVls=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F94d6907f-876d-4f9b-ab86-3436aeab2e6d 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/pvu4iARVJjpcErSENe-sx3dtXTU=/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F94d6907f-876d-4f9b-ab86-3436aeab2e6d 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">Want a pay rise? These jobs experienced the fastest salary growth this year </div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2025/06/09/12/35/jobs-fastest-salary-growth-seek-data">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, he urged small business owners and sole traders to "strike the right balance" between short-term and long-term goals, and to make use of tools available to streamline the process.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Time is precious, and the admin and mental load are very real. Resources like the ATO's website and your banking app can help automate processes, and provide valuable cash flow insights, visibility, and control," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And importantly, understand how to make the most of the super system. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It offers significant tax advantages for long-term investing, and even small, regular contributions can grow substantially over time thanks to the power of compounding."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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