Tell me about



Welcome to business.govt.nz

Thinking about starting a business

Do you have a good idea for a new business? Setting up and building a business from the ground up can be an exciting and rewarding thing to do. It can also be a lot of hard work. The better prepared you are for the realities of starting a business, the greater chance you have of being successful. This covers the things to think about before you get started.

Starting a business guide Opens in a new window (PDF)

This simple, easy-to-read guide is designed to help you start-up and build a business based on good ideas and clear goals. It covers topics such as identifying your market, analysing the competition and financing. Checklists, tips and case studies are included to help you determine whether your idea will work before you start your new business.

This information is brought to you by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise

Business demography statistics

Good information is critical when you’re formulating a new business idea and assessing your potential market. Statistics New Zealand can help you find a range of information and data to help you develop your business plan.

This information is brought to you by Statistics New Zealand

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.

This information is brought to you by The Small Business Company

Online training: Are you ready to be in business? Opens in a new window

This free 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. It is designed to take 30 to 60 minutes to complete.

This information is brought to you by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

Do you have what it takes to run your own business?

Starting your own business can be exciting and rewarding. It’s a big decision that could also affect your lifestyle and your family. Use this checklist to decide whether you have the skills, attitudes, and characteristics to run a business.

This information is brought to you by The Small Business Company

What are the characteristics of a successful business owner?

There are some common qualities shared amongst business owners that help them run a small business. Being self-motivated and having great people skills are just some of the characteristics that may increase your chances of being successful in business. This article will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses.

This information is brought to you by nzbizbuysell.co.nz

Online training: Can you afford to start a business? Opens in a new window

This free 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. It is designed to take 30 to 60 minutes to complete.

This information is brought to you by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

Online training: Determining market size Opens in a new window

This free 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. Determining market size is often needed to support your business plan. It is designed to take 30 to 60 minutes to complete.

This information is brought to you by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

Starting a small business – Frequently asked questions

What business structure should I choose? Do I need to register a company? Should I use an accountant? 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.

This information is brought to you by The Small Business Company

My business

Sign in

Login


Forgotten your password?

» Register now
» Subscribe to our newsletter

It's important to protect your ideas and your company name. An intellectual property specialist can advise you on the steps to take.

» Tell me more