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Getting started

Taking the first steps

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Taking the first steps

Questions to ask yourself before you start 10-step guide to starting a business How to research your market and competitors Buying a business or franchise Registering with government agencies

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Create a business plan

Get geared up for a successful launch

Choosing the right business structure

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Choosing the right business structure

Business structure overview Starting a company Starting a partnership Other business structures

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Sole trader guide

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Sole trader guide

Becoming a sole trader Sole trader checklist Tax 101 for sole traders Funding and other government help

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Business planning tools and tips

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Business planning tools and tips

Introduction to business planning How to write a business plan When business planning is right for you Getting business planning advice Keeping track of key metrics How to be environmentally sustainable What is sustainable business Business milestones and how we can help

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Income and provisional tax in a nutshell

Building a brand

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Building a brand

Creating your brand Choosing a business name Developing your unique selling point Getting an online presence Strengthening your online presence

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Simple steps to protect your IP

Use our checklist

Funding your business

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Funding your business

How much money do you need to start a business? Choosing the right types of funding Borrowing money Getting investors on board

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Advice and governance

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Advice and governance

Types of advice you’ll need How business advisors can help Getting financial advice Boards and directors Questions your board will ask

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Advice for contractors

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Advice for contractors

What to consider before you starting contracting Managing your finances Insurance cover for contractors What to watch out for in contracts Finding contracting work What you need to know if you have multiple jobs

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Business structures

Advice on choosing the best one for you

How to grow

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How to grow

Boosting sales

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Boosting sales

Marketing and sales Exhibiting at trade shows Tips for tendering

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Operating at a loss?

Get tips on what you can do

Intellectual property protection

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Intellectual property protection

What is intellectual property Types of intellectual property Why intellectual property is important Simple steps to protect your intellectual property When to consider intellectual property Preparing for intellectual property advice Defending your intellectual property Protecting your intellectual property overseas

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Insights and articles on the latest business topics

Growth and innovation

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Growth and innovation

Test if you are ready to grow Fostering innovation Teaming up with other businesses

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10 step business plan template

Quick-focus planning for growing businesses

Getting government grants

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Getting government grants

What can I get help with? Grants and help for your new business Grants and help for your established business Free government support and services

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Advice and governance

Get support from people who can drive your business forward

Importing

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Importing

Manufacturing overseas 10 tips before you import Importers and the Customs Service Biosecurity for importers

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How to protect your IP overseas

Exporting

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Exporting

What you need to know about exporting Create a good export plan Understand different ways to ship and distribute Government agencies can help when you export

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How to protect your IP overseas

Planning to exit

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Planning to exit

What to do when selling your business Stepping back from your business

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Operating at a loss?

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NZTE Capability development voucher

Co-funding to grow your skills.

Tax and accounting

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Tax and accounting

Business finance basics

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Business finance basics

Introduction to business finance Finance tips to help your business Getting paid on time Cash flow forecasting Depreciation: how to spread the cost of your assets What to do if your business is operating at a loss

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Basic tax types

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Basic tax types

Introduction to taxes and levies Income tax and provisional tax GST ACC levies

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Tax when you have employees

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Tax when you have employees

Payroll deductions PAYE KiwiSaver Employer superannuation contribution tax (ESCT) Fringe benefit tax (FBT) Employee allowances

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Which laws apply to you?

Use our Compliance Matters tool to find out

Reducing your tax

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Reducing your tax

How to reduce your tax bill Claiming expenses Research & development tax incentive

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Tax time tips

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Tax time tips

How to make tax time easier Keeping tax records Systems that can help at tax time How to fix tax mistakes

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Insights and articles on the latest business topics

Closing down

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Closing down

Warning signs of trouble ahead Is closing your business the right choice? Closing your business Insolvency and involuntary closure

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Operating at a loss?

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Understand your financial position

Use the Cash Flow Forecaster tool

Hiring and managing people

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Hiring and managing people

Deciding to hire

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Deciding to hire

When you should hire staff Hiring the right staff types See how much an employee will cost How to become an employer Alternatives to hiring an employee

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Hiring people

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Hiring people

Overview of the hiring process Advertising positions and interviewing applicants Recruitment options for your business Minimum wage and fair pay What to do when making a job offer How to create an employment agreement What you need to know about trial and probation periods How to hire fixed term/casual employees How to hire overseas workers Employing your spouse or partner To-do list before your employee starts

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Thinking of hiring?

Use the Employee Cost Calculator to estimate costs

Handling holidays and leave

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Handling holidays and leave

Introduction to holidays and leave Paying your employees for leave Managing annual leave for your team Public holidays Sick leave Helping staff with bereavement leave Helping staff with domestic violence leave Parental leave How to manage unpaid leave

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Managing people day to day

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Managing people day to day

How to set up a new employee Your employee's first day/week What do I need to do when record keeping Things to know when paying your employees Breaks Handling taxes with bonuses and benefits Advice on flexible working arrangements What you need to know about policies and procedures Steps to take when managing misconduct Best practice for an age-diverse workplace Accommodation for workers

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Guide to keeping people healthy and safe at work

Getting the best from people

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Getting the best from people

Performance appraisals Training and development options for your team Assess skills in your business Government help with training Steps to take when handling poor performance How you can resolve employment issues What to do when restructuring your business

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Tips on keeping track of employee performance

Ending employment

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Ending employment

What to do when an employee resigns Employee retirement What to do when making someone redundant Dismissal or termination Your checklist for when an employee leaves

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Business structures

Advice on choosing the best one for you

Build employment agreements

Tailored to your business and everyone you employ

Do business online

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Do business online

Get tailored e-commerce advice Planning to do business online Improving your online business Building your website or online store Advertising to online customers Strengthening relationships with customers Orders and deliveries Digital Boost

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Use the Revive & Thrive tool

Doing business for good

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Doing business for good

Doing business for good - an overview Making a difference with your purpose-led business Developing your business and impact models Building the foundation for your purpose-led business Measuring the impact of your purpose-led business Getting investment for your purpose-led business

Risks and operations

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Risks and operations

Health and safety

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Health and safety

Health and safety basics How to assess health and safety risks What is 'reasonably practicable' Plans, tools and learning from incidents Worker engagement and participation Great toolbox talks How to approach workers about a health and safety issue Protect your retail shop with a fog cannon Preparing for health and safety advice What to expect from WorkSafe visits

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Insights and articles on the latest business topics

Planning for the unexpected (BCP)

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Planning for the unexpected (BCP)

Emergency planning for businesses Continuity and contingency planning Insurance In an emergency

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IT risk and avoiding scams

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IT risk and avoiding scams

Storing and backing up data Protecting business data Protecting customer and employee information Avoiding scams and fraud What to do if you've been hacked

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Dealing with customer complaints

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Dealing with customer complaints

When customers complain Understanding consumer laws Reducing risk of complaints Fair returns and complaints policies What you need to tell customers Training staff to handle complaints

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Equipment, premises and assets

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Equipment, premises and assets

Choosing where to work Leasing or buying premises Common business assets checklists Introduction to managing assets Resource Management Act for business CO2 support

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Manufacturing

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Manufacturing

Exploring manufacturing options Importing and exporting laws

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Reduce your risk as a supplier Extreme weather: Information for businesses Tips for tradies

Which laws apply to you?

Use our Compliance Matters tool to find out

Business performance

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Business performance

Management and leadership

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Management and leadership

Assess your management and leadership skills Improve your management and leadership: Overview How to communicate and give feedback How to be a good leader Leadership styles and when to use them How to motivate your staff Managing people's performance Performance issues: What to check Shaping your work culture

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Strategic finance

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Strategic finance

Strategic finance overview How to read financial statements Use numbers to tell your business story Financial models that can help you succeed Metrics that can help your cash flow What to know when exploring funding options

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Operations strategy

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Operations strategy

Operations strategy overview Improving operational efficiency and innovation Ensuring capacity matches demand Managing inventory Quality matters: understand and improve quality Knowing your networks: supply and distribution

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Directors and governance

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Directors and governance

Governance overview What governance is and why it’s important Laying the groundwork for good governance What it means to be a good director Governance: Key things to review if you do it yourself Structured governance — boards

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Business strategy

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Business strategy

Business strategy at a glance An introduction to business strategy Looking outwards at your market Looking inwards at your business Creating your own space Turning strategy into action

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Marketing strategy

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Marketing strategy

Marketing strategy overview How marketing sets you up for success What your customers want and how they think Build a brand your customers will love Use insights to sell the right thing in the best place How to set the right price Find the best way to promote your business

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New Zealand Business Performance Panel

Build employment agreements

Tailored to your business and everyone you employ

Wellbeing support

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Wellbeing support

Mental health and wellbeing support Managing your own wellbeing

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Managing your own wellbeing

Resilience: Tips for small business owners Boss burnout: Spot warning signs in yourself Owner-operators: Tips to beat isolation Money and your mental health Working solo: Tips to stay mentally well Impostor syndrome: Feeling like a fraud

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Wellbeing in your business

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Wellbeing in your business

Mental health in the workplace Problem sharing and solving Why workplace wellbeing is important Talking with your team about uncertain times Mental health for you and your staff Looking after your employees Minimising and managing workplace stress Great minds don’t always think alike

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Wellbeing webinars Brave in business e-learning

E-learning courses Extreme weather: Information for businesses News Tools and resources Older workers toolkit Starting a business Going contracting Contribute to consultations

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