Starting a Business in New Zealand

New Zealand is a comparatively small place, so it will come as no surprise that the vast majority (96% as of 2005) of businesses in New Zealand employ less than 20 people.

Most self-employed Kiwi entrepreneurs set out to make a comfortable living providing a service rather than aiming for world market domination, but innovation is very highly valued. Many magazines and newspapers regularly feature small businesses, often niche clothing or food retailers, or small manufacturers. In business as in sport, New Zealanders like to think that they are punching above their weight on the world stage, but there are a large number of genuinely inventive businesspeople doing fascinating things.

If you are considering starting a business in New Zealand, there are a number of places to get practical advice, including employment law, grants, planning and mentoring. A good place to start is www.business.govt.nz, the web portal of government organisation New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Some regions also provide excellent business support, advice and courses, such as the City Council-run CDC in Christchurch, www.cdc.org.nz. Many of the services provided by these organisations are free, and they can be an excellent way of developing business-to-business networks when you are new to the area.

Networking is a very important part of running a business in New Zealand. Especially in relatively small cities such as Christchurch, a personal recommendation from a friend or colleague carries much more weight than any amount of clever marketing.

There are special New Zealand immigration visa categories for migrants who are setting up or buying a business in NZ - the long term business visa, which can lead to permanent residence under the Entrepreneur or Entrepreneur Plus categories. 

Many New Zealand business people set up family trusts to separate their personal assets from company assets in the event of problems. There may some advantage in setting up a New Zealand trust before you emigrate to New Zealand - take a look at our article on New Zealand pre-migration trusts for more information.

And finally, we've asked Sam Williamson from Takak Business Sales, our favourite New Zealand business broker, for his advice and top tips for Brits who are thinking about buying a business in New Zealand when they emigrate.

Broadbase International will work with you every step of the way to help you make a confident start to your new life in New Zealand. Please contact us if you have any questions about the financial side of life in New Zealand, and don't forget to order your free copy of our comprehensive New Zealand Guide.