Are you worried that you lack the money and general financial know-how to get your new venture started? If so, know that many entrepreneurs have started exactly where you are now and have gone on to secure the early-stage financial backing they needed.

You have the business idea, now you want to launch and grow your startup - but where do you go from here?

As a small business owner, confidence is earned. No business owner has the complete know-how or a perfect skill set from the start - that experience comes from time, and often, recovering from mistakes.

Small businesses thrive on the strength of an attractive brand and a growing customer base. One of the most impactful ways to achieve both is to use social media.

Case Studies

Sarah Bowman and her husband Caleb Clarke knew they faced more than the usual challenges when they decided to set up a craft brewery on Aotea - Great Barrier Island.

Our business is all about people. We have two groups that influence our delivery, the business mentors, and small business owners looking to grow their business. Mentors provide the time and knowledge free of charge, and that’s what makes them so valuable. They have no emotional or financial investment in the business that Business Mentors New Zealand (BMNZ) introduces them to, allowing mentors to give impartial advice. Clients apply to the mentoring service for a range of reasons. Usually, ...

Whether you're at the beginning of your business journey, or you're already engaged in the daily grind of running your company, you want your efforts to produce results. And by getting some personalised guidance, you can make sure it happens.

In business, there is no blueprint. For experienced and new business owners alike, there is room for personal and professional growth. Regardless of the phase you find yourself in, it’s wise to consider mentoring. A mentor can be a wise friend, ready to lend an ear and offer a fresh perspective.

With a mentor, you can shorten the distance between your current state and the success you hope for. In part two of this blog we discuss the short and long-term benefits of the programmes and how a mentor will change the way you do business.

If you're hoping to start a business or already running one, you’re sure to encounter a number of common obstacles.