Stage
Every business goes through different stages like starting out, growing, facing challenges, and eventually stepping away. This section walks you through each stage with practical tips and tools to help you make confident decisions along the way.
Starting a business
Starting a business is a big step, and there’s a lot to think about. You might build something from scratch, buy an existing business, or take on a franchise. This page outlines each option and covers the essentials – from planning and structure, to funding and tax.
Growing your business
Once your business is up and running, you might want to grow it. Explore your options, from innovating and collaborating, to exporting, boosting your marketing or looking for government support and resources.
Maintaining your business
Once your business is up and running, make sure you know how to keep it going. Maintaining it can be just as important as growing it.
Dealing with tough times
If your business is going through a difficult time, things can be overwhelming. By focusing on one area at a time, you’ll be able to see what steps you can take to improve things – whether the issue is finances, stress, staffing or something else.
Selling, closing, or stepping away
At some stage, business owners may want to sell, close or step away from their businesses. We explore why you might be considering each of these situations and suggest what you could do instead.
Type
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to running a business. This section breaks down common business types such as sole traders, contractors, and social enterprises, so you can choose the setup that works best for your goals, values, and how you like to work.
Sole trader
Being a sole trader puts you in the driving seat and is a way to start a business, work for yourself, or work as a contractor for someone else. You’ll need to think about whether sole trading is right for you. If it is, set up good business processes to help you in the long run.
Company
A company can be a great option to structure your business, but make sure you know what it involves and how to decide if this is the right model for you. This includes identifying where your business value lies, setting yourself up for successful governance, and knowing what kind of support you can get.
Contractor
Contractors are flexible and work on demand. If you’re setting up as a contractor, you’ll need to know how to find work, understand your contracts, and manage your finances.
Social enterprise (doing business for good)
Starting a purpose-led business can be a powerful way to align your work with your values. Doing business for good can attract and keep talent, and create a positive impact on the local community and broader society. A purpose-led business can also be a financial success.
Partnership
Partnerships are easy to start, but there are a few things to consider before you decide to go ahead. Find out if a partnership is the right choice for you, what support you can get, and what alternative there are to closing your business.
Exploring other business structures
Learn what other, less common business structures there are in New Zealand, and what legal obligations they have. If you’re thinking about using one of these other structures, make sure you get professional advice.