Business Basics
Startup Guide
CEDA’s Startup Guide includes the essential first steps to starting your own business. The guide focusses on three key areas; Visibility, Structure and Strategy.
Business.govt.nz
This is a great source of information, templates and useful links. There is a whole section dedicated to getting started in business; how to take the first steps, how to choose the right business structure, build a brand, fund your business, and much more
Inland Revenue
IRD has developed a series of videos called Introduction to Business, to help new business owners. It includes topics such as business structures, expenses, registering for GST and record keeping.
New Zealand Business Number
New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) is a unique global identifier for businesses. It’s available to every Kiwi business, whether you’re self-employed (sole trader) or a major corporation, there is an NZBN for you and it’s free.
Your NZBN includes such things as your legal business name, trading name, telephone numbers and email. Apply for an NZBN.
Research your market and competitors
Before you start researching your market, work out what your business does, its purpose and if its unique. You also need to have an idea of who your potential customers will be, and what their needs are. There are free tools you can use to build a detailed picture of your market and competition – the more detailed the better.
Find out more here on defining your unique selling point.
Find out more about researching your market.
Sales and Marketing
Digital Boost
‘Digital’ doesn’t have to be intimidating. It’s here to make life easy! So whatever stage you’re at, Digital Boost will help you use digital to do business smarter. Check out the free online courses, taught by experts, for Kiwis like you.
Google My Business
Google My Business is a free internet-based service designed to help promote local businesses online. It’s a tool which enables business owners to manage how they appear online across Google and make their business stand out and be found easily. Without Google My Business, you’re missing out on hundreds of searchers who want to find your services and products. Find out more here.
Starting a Business Programme
Business Mentors NZ
Business Mentors NZ is designed for people who have a business idea and want to explore it, need help assessing the feasibility of their idea, develop a robust business plan and have the right foundations in place.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
There are a range of free business courses available through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Smart Steps for Business is a 20-week course that will help you to identify, evaluate and plan for the launch of your business. You’ll learn everything required to build a business idea and assess whether it could be successful in market.
Networking
Business Networks
Whether you are looking to start building your networks and connections, grow the size of your business, or adjust the nature, shape, or focus networking is an important tool to connecting you to local experts and other like-minded business owners who can provide you with a lifeline of support and knowledge.
Business Accelerators
The Factory
The Factory are experts at getting tech startups off the ground, helping businesses to grow and thrive and business acceleration specialising in agritech, agrifood and new technologies.
Learn more here.
Sprout Accelerator
Sprout Accelerator helps AgTech and FoodTech entrepreneurs, companies, or scientists wishing to turn their IP into a scalable business. Learn more here.
