Small businesses are a vital component of coastal communities. Yet it can be difficult for them to prioritise considering climate adaptation alongside immediate financial and operational pressures.

Small businesses have less capacity or resources - time, funding and specialist expertise - that larger organisations to assess climate risks or develop adaptation plans. At the same time, they face growing exposure to hazards such as extreme heat, flooding, storms, bushfires and supply chain disruptions.

To address this gap, in 2022 the South East Councils Climate Alliance (SECCA) developed a toolkit to give provide businesses with practical, accessible guidance for assessing climate risks and planning responses. The resource, the Small Business Climate Adaptation Toolkit, was underpinned by a literature review and by SECCCA’s regional climate vulnerability assessment, which provides information about business exposure to climate extremes.

The toolkit provides a structured process that business owners can work through themselves. It was piloted and refined with small businesses in the SECCCA region, drawing on experience across different industry sectors.

The interactive toolkit provides guidance through a seven step adaptation process, that is designed to take from 45-90 minutes to complete. However, it is suggested to not rush the process.

1. Get into the mindset for adaptation.
   Recognise it is necessary to prepare for climate change for business continuity and resilience.
2. Understand local climate impacts.
   Consider the climate hazards that could affect the business and its context.
3. Assess business vulnerability.
   Identify exposed premises, equipment, people, operations and supply chains.
4. Consider risks and opportunities.
   Determine which impacts matter most and where adaptation could provide new opportunities or benefits.
5. Identify adaptation options.
   Explore practical adaptation measures for the short and longer term.
6. Develop an action plan.
   Set out priority actions to improve resilience.
7. Implement, check and review.
   Enact the plan and revisit it as conditions and business needs change.

Additional resources include a diverse range of case studies that show how adaptation can be tailored to a range of coastal businesses including professional services, real estate, food manufacturing and industrial manufacturing.

A key strength of the toolkit is its emphasis on opportunity as well as risk. While climate change can threaten operations, infrastructure and supply chains, it can also create opportunities for innovation, improved efficiency and new products or services. By encouraging businesses to consider both perspectives, the toolkit supports more strategic and future-focused decision-making.

This case study was prepared by NCCARF.

Please cite as: NCCARF, 2026: Preparing small businesses to adapt: a South Australian toolkit. Case study for CoastAdapt, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Griffith University, Gold Coast.