Business.govt.nz
With Business.govt.nz
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Find out if you're ready to be in business
This 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.
This 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.
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Quick start business plan - an interactive online business plan
Taking time to write a business plan will get your business off to a better start. It requires you to think methodically about your business idea and tests if it is realistic or not. Complete this online training module to build your own business plan.
Taking time to write a business plan will get your business off to a better start. It requires you to think methodically about your business idea and tests if it is realistic or not. Complete this online training module to build your own business plan.
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Determining market size
This 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. You often need to determine market size to support your business plan.
This 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. You often need to determine market size to support your business plan.
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Business ratio calculator [XLS 84kb]
Ratio analysis is used to assess your past financial information (such as sales), and compare that to previous years, to see if there is a trend.
Ratio analysis is used to assess your past financial information (such as sales), and compare that to previous years, to see if there is a trend.
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Debt consolidation calculator [XLS 76kb]
While it is generally best to be debt free, this may not always be possible. Consolidating your debts into one loan may result in lower costs. A lower overall interest rate and lower combined fees could contribute to improved cash flow overall.
While it is generally best to be debt free, this may not always be possible. Consolidating your debts into one loan may result in lower costs. A lower overall interest rate and lower combined fees could contribute to improved cash flow overall.
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Can you afford to start a business?
This 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.
This 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.
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Positioning your business
This online training module provides a tactical plan to let your potential customers know how you are positioned against the competition. Before you start spending money on marketing you need to decide where you want to position your company.
This online training module provides a tactical plan to let your potential customers know how you are positioned against the competition. Before you start spending money on marketing you need to decide where you want to position your company.
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How to target your marketing
This online training module will show you how to carefully select the most lucrative targets for your business, instead of trying to target everyone. Successful small businesses thrive by carefully targeting certain people, businesses, or segments of a market, saving themselves time and money.
This online training module will show you how to carefully select the most lucrative targets for your business, instead of trying to target everyone. Successful small businesses thrive by carefully targeting certain people, businesses, or segments of a market, saving themselves time and money.
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Research the competition
This online training module shows you how to research your competition. If your competitors are still in business, they must be doing something right and you can look at what they’re doing to sustain their business. But they may also be doing some things badly. You may be able to exploit these gaps to develop a competitive advantage.
This online training module shows you how to research your competition. If your competitors are still in business, they must be doing something right and you can look at what they’re doing to sustain their business. But they may also be doing some things badly. You may be able to exploit these gaps to develop a competitive advantage.
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SWOT analysis
This online training module shows you how to complete a SWOT analysis of your business. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day running of your business and lose sight of the bigger picture. You need to periodically take an objective look at your business and think about how you can improve it.
This online training module shows you how to complete a SWOT analysis of your business. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day running of your business and lose sight of the bigger picture. You need to periodically take an objective look at your business and think about how you can improve it.
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Get staff to do what you want
This online training module will help you identify ways to motivate staff. It’s especially useful for small business owners who have employees who don’t always do what they are expected to, or who create conflict in the workplace.
This online training module will help you identify ways to motivate staff. It’s especially useful for small business owners who have employees who don’t always do what they are expected to, or who create conflict in the workplace.
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Competitor analysis template [DOC 45kb]
Researching your competitors' strengths and weaknesses can give you the competitive edge.
Researching your competitors' strengths and weaknesses can give you the competitive edge.
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Conduct effective market research
This online training module will help you ask crucial questions before you start your business and ensure you collect the information you need. Without feedback from the people you’re selling to, or from potential suppliers, it’s difficult to make decisions about pricing and where to position your business. You’ll also need in-depth knowledge of the competition.
This online training module will help you ask crucial questions before you start your business and ensure you collect the information you need. Without feedback from the people you’re selling to, or from potential suppliers, it’s difficult to make decisions about pricing and where to position your business. You’ll also need in-depth knowledge of the competition.
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Developing efficient systems
This online training module provides ideas and direction on how to develop business systems. It includes downloads for profit and cash flow forecasts.
This online training module provides ideas and direction on how to develop business systems. It includes downloads for profit and cash flow forecasts.
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Identify the problems
This free online training module shows you how to manage your business more effectively by identifying and dealing with the problems that cause business disruption or impede business growth.
This free online training module shows you how to manage your business more effectively by identifying and dealing with the problems that cause business disruption or impede business growth.
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Financial forecasts
This online training module leads you through some key financial forecasting tools that will help you manage your business better, and develop a more solid foundation to your business planning. You need to be able to produce realistic forecasts when dealing with banks, other lenders and investors, and to learn how to use realism in your projections.
This online training module leads you through some key financial forecasting tools that will help you manage your business better, and develop a more solid foundation to your business planning. You need to be able to produce realistic forecasts when dealing with banks, other lenders and investors, and to learn how to use realism in your projections.
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Ratio and KPI performance
This online training module demonstrates how you can use ratio analysis and key performance indicators to fine-tune your business. Ratio analysis is used to assess your past financial information and compare it to previous years, to see if there are trends. You can then determine whether your business is improving or declining. If it’s declining, then you can take appropriate remedial action.
This online training module demonstrates how you can use ratio analysis and key performance indicators to fine-tune your business. Ratio analysis is used to assess your past financial information and compare it to previous years, to see if there are trends. You can then determine whether your business is improving or declining. If it’s declining, then you can take appropriate remedial action.
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How to collect debts
This online training module shows you how to improve the debt collection process in your business with good systems. Debt collection is a major cause of cash flow difficulties in many businesses and can contribute to business failure, poor performance, and lower profits.
This online training module shows you how to improve the debt collection process in your business with good systems. Debt collection is a major cause of cash flow difficulties in many businesses and can contribute to business failure, poor performance, and lower profits.
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How much money are you really making?
This online training module explains how you can assess the viability of your business and its activities. It’s important to be realistic about what you are getting out of your business so that you can focus your efforts and money on the things that are most worthwhile.
This online training module explains how you can assess the viability of your business and its activities. It’s important to be realistic about what you are getting out of your business so that you can focus your efforts and money on the things that are most worthwhile.
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Business Health Check
The Business health check is an easy-to-use tool designed to help you assess your business's health against five key business management areas. You will get a list of the most important actions you should take, together with additional resources to improve the health of your business.
The Business health check is an easy-to-use tool designed to help you assess your business's health against five key business management areas. You will get a list of the most important actions you should take, together with additional resources to improve the health of your business.
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10 Step Business Survival Plan
The 10 Step business survival plan is designed for businesses under stress. It takes the approach that the best way to confront market turmoil is through strategy, planning and doing something now.
The 10 Step business survival plan is designed for businesses under stress. It takes the approach that the best way to confront market turmoil is through strategy, planning and doing something now.
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Charge-out rate calculator [XLS 78kb]
How much should you charge? You need to know how much you want to earn (your profit) plus how much it costs to run your business (your overheads), and to then divide the total figure by the number of hours you can charge out to customers.
How much should you charge? You need to know how much you want to earn (your profit) plus how much it costs to run your business (your overheads), and to then divide the total figure by the number of hours you can charge out to customers.
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Five ways to increase profit calculator [XLS 77kb]
Small changes in five key areas of your business can have a major impact on your profit.
Small changes in five key areas of your business can have a major impact on your profit.
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Market research survey template [DOC 42kb]
Find out whether the plans you have for your business will meet your customers' needs.
Find out whether the plans you have for your business will meet your customers' needs.
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Discounts and loyalty rewards calculator [XLS 70.5kb]
Large businesses often have sales with big discounts and it's tempting to follow suit to compete. However, unless your business normally has very high margins on the products you sell, you may be surprised how much that sale will cost.
Large businesses often have sales with big discounts and it's tempting to follow suit to compete. However, unless your business normally has very high margins on the products you sell, you may be surprised how much that sale will cost.
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Customer survey template [DOC 49kb]
Work out your typical customer profile so that you can target your marketing more effectively.
Work out your typical customer profile so that you can target your marketing more effectively.
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Lifetime value of your clients calculator [XLS 73kb]
Right from the start, you need to budget for what your customer loyalty will cost you. This includes costs such as staff time, advertising, rewards, and promotions.
Right from the start, you need to budget for what your customer loyalty will cost you. This includes costs such as staff time, advertising, rewards, and promotions.
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Advertising budget timeline [XLS 90.5kb]
Plan what you are doing, when you will do it, and how much it will cost.
Plan what you are doing, when you will do it, and how much it will cost.
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Advertising break-even calculator [XLS 70kb]
Unlike large corporations, few small businesses can afford to advertise purely for brand awareness, so ensure your advertisement will generate a return.
Unlike large corporations, few small businesses can afford to advertise purely for brand awareness, so ensure your advertisement will generate a return.
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Goal setting template [PDF 66.7kb]
Plan what goals you want to achieve, who will do it, and when it will be done.
Plan what goals you want to achieve, who will do it, and when it will be done.
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SWOT analysis template [DOC 61.5kb]
A regular SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) of your business can help you identify opportunities and areas for improvement, and head off any looming threats.
A regular SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) of your business can help you identify opportunities and areas for improvement, and head off any looming threats.
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Survive and Prosper marketing e-book (PDF 858kb)
Find out how to build your business in tough times through smart marketing tactics.
Find out how to build your business in tough times through smart marketing tactics.
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Assess the health of your marketing
Interactive tool to help you guage the performance of your marketing efforts.
Interactive tool to help you guage the performance of your marketing efforts.
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Assess your business capability
Use our handy tool to identify ways you can improve your business's capabilities.
Use our handy tool to identify ways you can improve your business's capabilities.
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Assess the future of your business
Use our handy tool to find out how well prepared your business is for the future.
Use our handy tool to find out how well prepared your business is for the future.
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Listen to helpful advice and tips with our range of podcasts
Whether you're a seasoned business owner or are just starting out, we have a range of podcasts that are full of advice and tips on how to grow and develop your business.
Whether you're a seasoned business owner or are just starting out, we have a range of podcasts that are full of advice and tips on how to grow and develop your business.
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Assess the health of your website
Use our handy tool to identify ways you can improve the health of your website.
Use our handy tool to identify ways you can improve the health of your website.
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Assess the health of your product or service
Interactive tool to help you guage the health of your product or service.
Interactive tool to help you guage the health of your product or service.
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Break even calculator for products
Download a break even analysis spreadsheet for businesses selling products.
Download a break even analysis spreadsheet for businesses selling products.
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Password policy template
Use this template to encourage good password polices in your business to ensure your IT systems remain secure.
Use this template to encourage good password polices in your business to ensure your IT systems remain secure.
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Social media policy template
Customise this template to set rules for the use of social media in your business.
Customise this template to set rules for the use of social media in your business.
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