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Thinking about starting a business

Do you have a good idea for a new business? Setting up and building a business from the ground up can be an exciting and rewarding thing to do. It can also be a lot of hard work. The better prepared you are for the realities of starting a business, the greater chance you have of being successful. This covers the things to think about before you get started.

Online training: Are you ready to be in business? Opens in a new window

This free online training module will help you assess if being self-employed is right for you. It’s aimed at anyone not in business yet - you might be employed, in between careers or thinking about starting your own business. It is designed to take 30 to 60 minutes to complete.

This information is brought to you by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

Online training: Determining market size Opens in a new window

This free online training module will help you find out how many people use the kinds of products or services you want to supply; determine if the market for your type of business is growing; and discover how many consumers or businesses there are in your target market. Determining market size is often needed to support your business plan. It is designed to take 30 to 60 minutes to complete.

This information is brought to you by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

Online training: Can you afford to start a business? Opens in a new window

This free online training module will give you a clearer idea of how much money you need to start your business. Being undercapitalised is one of the main reasons people fail in their first few years, so it’s a good idea to work out how much you’ll need early on. It is designed to take 30 to 60 minutes to complete.

This information is brought to you by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

The basics of starting a small business

Different businesses have different needs. This article looks at how to approach your accounts before you start trading, ideas for maintaining your bookkeeping and stationery, how training can be useful to businesses, and more.

This information is brought to you by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

Taking your first few steps when starting up a business

The first thing you should do when starting a business is put together a business plan. However, consider preparing a basic start-up plan first because this will give you an early indication of whether your idea will succeed.

This information is brought to you by The Small Business Company

Work and Income guide to starting your own business Opens in a new window (PDF)

Starting a business is a big and often risky task. This booklet walks a potential business owner through the initial stages of setting up a business and poses the questions: Is business for you? Do you have the right idea? What skills will you need? What will it cost? It also looks at how to approach writing a business plan, what help is available to you when getting started, and whether you are entitled to financial assistance.

This information is brought to you by Work and Income

Starting a small business – Frequently asked questions

What business structure should I choose? Do I need to register a company? Should I use an accountant? If you’re looking at starting a new business it can seem like there’s a lot to think about. These FAQs provide answers to some commonly asked questions about starting a small business.

This information is brought to you by The Small Business Company

Forming a business in New Zealand Opens in a new window

Have you thought about how you will set up and run your business? Here are some of the suggestions that you may not have thought of: how to protect a business name; the importance of market research; writing a business plan; exporting your product; and ways to fund a new business.

This information is brought to you by Companies Office

Do you have what it takes to run your own business? Opens in a new window

Deciding if you have what it takes to run a successful business is a difficult thing to assess. Use this checklist that looks at 12 key characteristics, skills and attitudes that will be required to make your business work. It will help you understand your weaknesses and how to do something to rectify them.

This information is brought to you by The Small Business Company

Do you have the potential to become a successful business owner?

Have you thought about starting your own business? There are many options, such as starting a new business, buying a franchise, or buying an existing business. Review this article to see if you possess some of those key characteristics that are helpful in owning and operating a successful small business.

This information is brought to you by nzbizbuysell.co.nz

KiwiSaver for the self employed Opens in a new window

KiwiSaver is a voluntary savings initiative. It's designed to make it easier for New Zealanders to save for the future, including the self-employed.

This information is brought to you by Inland Revenue

Starting a business guide Opens in a new window (PDF)

This simple, easy-to-read guide is designed to help people start-up and build a business based on good ideas and clear goals. It covers topics such as identifying your market, analysing the competition and financing. Checklists, tips and case studies are included to help you determine whether your idea will work before you start your new business.

This information is brought to you by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise


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