Skip to main content

Main Menu

Home Getting started
Back

Getting started

Taking the first steps
Back

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
Get geared up for a successful launch

Create a business plan

Get geared up for a successful launch
Choosing the right business structure
Back

Choosing the right business structure

Business structure overview Becoming a sole trader Starting a company Starting a partnership Other business structures

Need a hand?

Searchform
Business planning tools and tips
Back

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 Common business milestones – and how we can help

Need a hand?

Searchform

Income and provisional tax in a nutshell
Building a brand
Back

Building a brand

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

Need a hand?

Searchform

Simple steps to protect your IP

Use our checklist
Funding your business
Back

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
Advice and governance
Back

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
Advice for contractors
Back

Advice for contractors

What to think about before you start 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 Government help for sole traders

Need a hand?

Searchform

Business structures

Advice on choosing the best one for you
How to grow
Back

How to grow

Boosting sales
Back

Boosting sales

Marketing and sales Exhibiting at trade shows Tips for tendering

Need a hand?

Searchform

Operating at a loss?

Get tips on what you can do
Growth and innovation
Back

Growth and innovation

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
Quick-focus planning for growing businesses

10 step business plan template

Quick-focus planning for growing businesses
Getting government grants
Back

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

Need a hand?

Searchform

Advice and governance

Get support from people who can drive your business forward
Importing and exporting
Back

Importing and exporting

Questions to ask yourself before exporting International market research Advice on export planning Trade agreements, exporting rules and barriers to trade Manufacturing overseas 10 tips before you import Importers and the Customs Service Biosecurity for importers

Need a hand?

Searchform

How to protect your IP overseas
Planning to exit
Back

Planning to exit

Selling your business Stepping back from your business

Need a hand?

Searchform

Operating at a loss?

Get tips on what you can do

NZTE Capability development voucher

Co-funding to grow your skills.
Tax and accounting
Back

Tax and accounting

Basic tax types
Back

Basic tax types

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
Tax when you have employees
Back

Tax when you have employees

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
Use our Compliance Matters tool to find out

Which laws apply to you?

Use our Compliance Matters tool to find out
Business finance basics
Back

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
Reducing your tax
Back

Reducing your tax

How to reduce your tax bill Claiming expenses

Need a hand?

Searchform
Tax time tips
Back

Tax time tips

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

Need a hand?

Searchform

Insights and articles on the latest business topics
Closing down
Back

Closing down

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

Need a hand?

Searchform

Operating at a loss?

Get tips on what you can do

Income and provisional tax in a nutshell
Hiring and managing people
Back

Hiring and managing people

Deciding to hire
Back

Deciding to hire

When to hire staff Hiring the right staff types Checking the cost of an employee Becoming an employer Alternatives to hiring an employee

Need a hand?

Searchform
Hiring people
Back

Hiring people

Overview of the hiring process Advertising and interviewing Government help with recruitment Minimum pay rules Making a job offer Creating an employment agreement Trial periods and probations Hiring fixed-term and casual employees Hiring someone from overseas Employing your spouse or partner To-do list before your employee starts

Need a hand?

Searchform
Use the Employee Cost Calculator to estimate costs

Thinking of hiring?

Use the Employee Cost Calculator to estimate costs
Handling holidays and leave
Back

Handling holidays and leave

Introduction to holidays and leave Paying employees for leave Annual leave Public holidays Sick leave Bereavement leave Domestic violence leave Parental leave Unpaid leave

Need a hand?

Searchform
Managing people day to day
Back

Managing people day to day

How to set up a new employee Your employee's first day/week Personnel files and record-keeping Paying employees Breaks Handling bonuses and benefits Flexible working arrangements Policies and procedures Managing misconduct Managing age-diverse workers

Need a hand?

Searchform

Guide to keeping people healthy and safe at work

Getting the best from people
Back

Getting the best from people

Performance appraisals Training and development Assess skills in your business Government help with training Handling poor performance Resolving employment issues Team restructuring

Need a hand?

Searchform

Tips on keeping track of employee performance

Ending employment
Back

Ending employment

Employee resignation Employee retirement Employee redundancy Dismissal or termination Employee exit checklist

Need a hand?

Searchform

Business structures

Advice on choosing the best one for you
Tailored to your business and everyone you employ

Build employment agreements

Tailored to your business and everyone you employ
Do business online
Back

Do business online

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

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
Back

Risks and operations

Health and safety
Back

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 Preparing for health and safety advice What to expect from WorkSafe visits Mental health in the workplace Mental health for you and your staff Mental health and wellbeing support

Need a hand?

Searchform

Insights and articles on the latest business topics
Intellectual property protection
Back

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

Need a hand?

Searchform

Insights and articles on the latest business topics
Planning for the unexpected (BCP)
Back

Planning for the unexpected (BCP)

Emergency planning for businesses Continuity and contingency planning Insurance

Need a hand?

Searchform
IT risk and avoiding scams
Back

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
Dealing with customer complaints
Back

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
Equipment, premises and assets
Back

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
Manufacturing
Back

Manufacturing

Exploring manufacturing options Importing and exporting laws

Need a hand?

Searchform
Use our Compliance Matters tool to find out

Which laws apply to you?

Use our Compliance Matters tool to find out
Business performance
Back

Business performance

Management and leadership
Back

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
Strategic finance
Back

Strategic finance

Strategic finance overview How to read financial statements Use numbers to analyse your business Financial models: Step-by-step guide Advanced finance: 7 key concepts Find the right type of funding for your business

Need a hand?

Searchform
Operations strategy
Back

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
Directors and governance
Back

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
Business strategy
Back

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
Marketing strategy
Back

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

Need a hand?

Searchform
New Zealand Business Performance Panel Other topics coming soon
Tailored to your business and everyone you employ

Build employment agreements

Tailored to your business and everyone you employ
Mature workers toolkit
COVID-19 News Tools and resources Starting a business Going contracting Contribute to consultations
Get the latest tips, advice and news

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter

Get the latest tips, advice and news
Searchform
Search
  1. Facebook
  2. Twitter

Go to homepage business.govt.nz business.govt.nz

Business.govt.nz

 

COVID-19

The whole of New Zealand is in the Orange traffic light setting.

See more information on operating guidelines at Orange

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to the business.govt.nz monthly newsletter to stay up to date with law changes and other news for business from across government.

Subscribe form

News

Select by topic
  • Planning & growth
  • Contracting
  • Tax time
  • Cash flow
  • Law changes
  • Staff & HR
  • Health & safety
  • Risks & ops
  • Tech talk
  • Expert view
  • Customers
  • Any topic
Select by date
  1. Past week
  2. Past month
  3. Past 3 months
  4. Past year
  5. Any time
Health & safety

Resilience: Tips for small business owners

01/11/2021

We asked an expert for mental wellbeing tips tailored for small business owners and sole traders.

Health & safety

Money and your mental health

10/08/2021

Your mental and financial wellbeing are often inter-connected and if one is not going well, it can really impact the other.

Footer

business.govt.nz

Business.govt.nz

Join Us

  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Send us your ideas
  • See what others are doing
  • Contribute to content
  • Become a case study

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn

Contact Us

  • Contact information
  • About us

Share this page

  • Print this page
  • Export as PDF
  • Email this page
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Ministry of Business, Innovation, & Employment
New Zealand Government
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

© 2022 business.govt.nz