Recently launched support online platform to help Kiwi business owners thrive, Small Business NZ (SBNZ) aims to provide community, connection and resources for small and micro businesses across the country.
SBNZ founder and spokesperson, Philip Wicks says that in his work as a business success coach, he encounters common problems – feelings of overwhelm and isolation, as well as not knowing where to look for quality assistance. He hopes the platform will help hard-working Kiwis across the country by providing access to quality resources and a support network.
“We want to help small business owners achieve greater work-life balance and business success, equalling a lot less stress. SBNZ aims to save Kiwi business owners time, no more searching on Google, by providing one central hub full of quality resources, articles, and templates suitable for running a business in New Zealand.”
Having run his own small business, Wicks understands that running a business is hard and small business owners are often left trying to figure it all out alone.
“A lot of small businesses start off with maybe a van and a couple of guys, and they’re technical experts at what they do. Ten years later, they’ve got a team of 20 and the business has gone from turning over 200k to $2 million
dollars. They’re left wondering why they are not making as much profit from when they first started out.”
Getting on with the job that they know best often means they don’t have the time to invest in leadership, marketing, accounting, operations, strategy, customer service and human resources training that can help a business thrive, Wicks says.
“There are so many hats that a small business owner wears and we want to help them learn which hats they should wear and consider which roles they could possibly outsource at minimal cost.”
Despite these difficulties, New Zealand is a proud nation of small and micro business owners. Defined as a business with fewer than 20 employees, there are approximately 530,000 small businesses in Aotearoa, according to Statistics New Zealand and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. This means small businesses make up 97% of all companies in New Zealand, contributing to over a quarter of New Zealand’s GDP and accounting for 28% of nationwide employment.
Wicks says getting the right advice, that is easy to access and not time-consuming is a minefield for small business owners.
The SBNZ platform provides a one-stop shop with New Zealand-relevant resources and education, membership discounts on services by certificated expert providers, and connection with a supportive community of like-minded business owners.
“The idea behind founding this platform is to provide a nationwide network where business owners can ask questions, receive quality support and advice, and ultimately help them feel supported in the hard work of running a small business,” Wicks says.
Small business owners that sign up as SBNZ members by paying a small annual subscription will receive access to discounted services by expert providers in various fields, accounting, business coaching and more. The site will be continually updated with more features and resources as it grows.
All members who join SBNZ before the 1st of October will be eligible to receive a complimentary 60 Point Business Diagnostic and report (valued at $1200), courtesy of sponsors BSP Advisory Group. In addition, 10% of annual membership fees go towards funding
