Business Mentors Blog

Not everyone has to scale up to succeed. As a small business owner, one of the most powerful choices you can make is deciding deliberately what kind of business owner you want to be. In New Zealand, 97% of Kiwi businesses employ fewer than 20 people. That means staying small is okay. In fact, it can be your strategy for building a more resilient and sustainable future. The conversation around productivity often suggests that bigger is better. But in 2026, many ...

You can boost productivity without hiring anyone new. Smart use of technology, strategic focus, and better systems are some of the secrets to unlocking increased output while keeping your business lean. About 97% of Kiwi businesses employ fewer than 20 people, so increasing productivity without growing headcount is a smart strategy.

What can small businesses in New Zealand expect from 2026? These 2026 predictions for NZ small businesses come from leaders across the BMNZ network and partner ecosystem to share their predictions for what will matter most. Here's what they see.

You can complete your full 2026 business strategic plan using affordable AI tools in just a few hours. This guide shows you exactly how, with step-by-step instructions, realistic timeframes, and cost breakdowns.

AI is not a technology just for technology experts. It’s become part of everyday lives. Being AI literate is not only becoming essential to business success, but to your own future. So, what is AI literacy, and how can you build it?

The wellbeing of small business owners sits at the heart of a thriving workplace. Yet, many of us face long hours, financial worries, and the responsibility of supporting staff in demanding conditions. As a leader, your mental health shapes the future of your business and the lives connected to it.

The sun is coming out for small businesses in the regions. While the economic climate has been particularly tough, those outside the main centres can start thinking beyond resilience to seize the opportunities that lie ahead.

If you feel like you're doing the work of two people, you're not alone. New Zealand's labour market is facing what some are calling a perfect storm. Recent data from Statistics New Zealand shows 27,850 fewer jobs in June 2025 compared to the year before. Yet paradoxically, many sectors are crying out for skilled workers. At ...

Running a small business means making every decision count, even in the language you use day-to-day. The words you choose to talk about your customers do more than fill space on your website or invoices; they shape how your team thinks, ...

Small businesses are now the primary target for cybercriminals. In New Zealand, nearly half of all cybercrimes target small businesses, and one in three small businesses has been attacked. The latest UK research shows their rate as 42%. How prepared are you?