Before you decide to start a business
Opening your own business can be a life changing decision, so it makes sense to identify if your business idea is feasible before you quit your job, tell all your friends or invest your funds (or other people’s).
This section looks at what it takes to start and run a small business and whether your business idea will work. As a start you should download the excellent Starting a Business Guide [PDF, 2253kb] from NZTE, and complete the online training lesson Are you ready to be in business?
You should also check out the section on Cash Flow Forecasting, as not only do you want to make sure you are suitable to be in business, you also want to see if you can make a profit.
Don’t forget to talk to friends, family and any other business owners or professionals you may know who can give you good honest advice.
Assess if you are ready to start up
Use our handy healthcheck tool to find out if you are ready to start a business.
Starting a small business - frequently asked questions
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.
Do you have what it takes to run your own business?
You need certain personal attributes and skills to run your own business successfully. Find out if you have what it takes to start your own business.
Is your business idea viable?
It's easy to come up with an idea for a business, but it makes sense to ensure your idea is viable before you invest too much time and money in it.
Will your business idea work?
Before you set up a business it's important to assess your business idea's commercial potential. This article helps you prepare a basic start-up plan to help you work out whether your idea will work. Use these guidelines to identify your market, determine your points of difference and consider the costs involved with starting a business.
Do I need resource consent to start a business?
If you are starting or changing a business you may need to apply for resource consent. This is a good place to find out if you need resource consent and how to go about getting consent.
Training options for owners and employees
Find out about training options available to your business and the institutions and associations that offer them.
Getting business advice
The best way to ensure that you quickly and easily find solutions, or the people who can provide the solutions, is to develop a network of business peers and professionals.
Selecting the right premises for your new business
This article takes the stress out of choosing a property that fits your business goals and target market.
