Business Guides > Small Business Guide

• Introductory Guides |
• Marketing and Ecommerce |
• Magazines for Small Business Owners |
• Useful links to NZ & International contacts

If you are thinking of setting up your own business, Wellington City Libraries can help. The following books and magazines on small business are just a small selection of the resources available to you. They cover topics such as marketing & e-commerce. Also listed are some useful links to relevant online resources, both national and international.

Introductory Guides

New books of interest:

Marketing and Ecommerce

Magazines for Small Business Owners

• Business Week
  The above link is to the small business section of the online version of Business Week.
• Franchise New Zealand
  Contains a variety of franchise opportunities and information. Also contains a Directory of Franchising which lists essential contact details for franchisers.
• Her magazine
  A New Zealand bi-monthly publication which features positive articles relating to women in business including success stories and personal growth topics.
• Idealog : the voice of the creative economy
• NZMarketing magazine
• Wellington today
  Aimed at the Wellingtonian entrepreneur and business-owner.

Useful links to NZ & International contacts for small businesses

New Zealand

• Te Arahanga Ō Ngā Iwi - Maori Economic Development Agency
  Provides services to Māori wishing to develop a new business idea or improve their existing business or community organisation.
• The Business Centre, the home of small business
  Based in Wellington the Centre offers training courses and a range of free services to small and medium sized Wellington businesses. You can access their free newsletters on the website.
• Business Essentials
  The Department of Labour has launched a new web resource to help business owners find simple straight forward employment relations and health & safety information.
• Business to business
  A monthly newspaper targeting small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs).Regular newspaper features include general business news, company appointments, an events diary and columns from experts in the fields of money management, business development, marketing, human resources, exporting/importing, business law, employer issues, using humour at work, and making the most of IT.
• Biz (business.govt.nz)
  This is the New Zealand government business site managed and maintained by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) to act as a gateway to government and private sector business information, news and services. It brings together free business resources, tools and information to help people start, manage and grow their business, and is designed specifically for small to medium sized businesses. The website is supported by freephone 0800 424 946.
• Business Mentor
  If your business is less than six months old, and you employ less than 25 people, then you are eligible for a business mentor. Conversely, if you would like to pass on your experience to newcomers, then you can apply to be a business mentor.
• Employment Agreement Builder
  This site has been created by Employment Relations Services to provide guidance to employers and employees on content for the creation of individual employment agreements.
• Export Training Services Ltd
  New Zealand's only provider of professional qualifications in exporting and international trade which have been accredited by Iatto (the International Association of Trade Training Organisations).
• Grow Wellington
  Grow Wellington was formed under the Wellington Regional Strategy and is a Council Controlled Organisation, wholly-owned by Greater Wellington Regional Council. Its aim is to drive growth in exports, and to help create a strong and vibrant Wellington regional economy. They work with business, other business support organisations, local and central government agencies, education and research institutions, and international partners to ensure businesses can get fast, relevant support to help them become more successful.
• Her Business Networks
  The networks have existed throughout New Zealand for over ten years. Her Business Group is the national sponsor, coordinator and administer of the Her Business Networks and maintains the philosophy of the original Wise Women Networks in providing opportunities for women who are seriously interested in self employment to get together, and to encourage and learn from one another through regular meetings. There is an annual subscription fee which entitles you to a variety of discounts and services.
• Homebizbuzz
  Winner of the the Best Small Business Web Site in New Zealand at the 2002 NetGuide Web Awards, this site provides provides a vast array of useful information to anyone starting out in business, as well as existing businesses, including a free newsletter.
• Idealog Magazine Business Plan. Tips for small businesses.
• NZ Herald Enterprise Small Business Success
  This pdf document is a special collection of articles of interest to small business owners. It includes an article on debt retrieval, as well as guides to buying a franchise, and selling your business.
• New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
  New Zealand Trade and Enterprise was established on 1 July 2003 as a result of a merger between Trade New Zealand and Industry New Zealand. Formerly, Trade New Zealand was the Government's trade promotion agency and Industry New Zealand was the Government's economic development agency. Their services cover specific aspects of trade and enterprise, business development, export services, business success and regional development, and includes services for businesses starting up, and at an early stage of development as well as services for businesses seeking to grow and internationalise: including new exporters, high growth businesses and other exporters. The website also provides access to New Zealand Trade & Enterprise related websites, and showcases New Zealand businesses, entrepreneurs and opportunities.
  Also here is a wonderful resource: Guides to starting a business
• Rainbow Wellington
  Business and Professionals Association (previously GAP) - based in the Capital City of Wellington, Rainbow Wellington is the largest professional network for gays and lesbians in Australasia - now with over 400 businesses on board! You'll be able to share your skills and services and establish new business opportunities and a whole new network.
• The Small Business Company Limited
  A great site with a wealth of free resources, including articles on small business topics, both management and marketing. You can also access their free training modules.
• Sparkbox
  "Investing in and growing simple ideas with simple value propositions". Sparkbox specialises in helping companies in the technology sector, and rather than calling themselves a traditional venture capital company, they see themselves as Business angels - ie "individuals with more than a few spare dollars who want to invest in and help develop a firm before it's large enough to access traditional venture capital funds."
• Statistics NZ Business toolbox
  Find your target market and compare your business with competitors."
• Wellington Chamber of Commerce
  The Wellington Regional Council has since 1856 been in the business of encouraging regional development and has 1,400 members, who range from major corporations to sole traders.
• Wellington Young Professionals
  WYP is a network of young business people (aged under 30) in Wellington. It holds regular networking events and provides networking opportunities and introductions for participants.
• Venus Network
  A nationwide business referral community designed for women who are serious about growing their business, their networks and themselves. This is the link to the Wellington network.

International

• AllBusiness.com
  An american site AllBusiness.com provides practical solutions to the everyday challenges of starting, managing and growing a business. You can register as a member for free.
• BizMove.com - the Small Business Knowledge Base
  A comprehensive American site of free small business information . It provides access to guides, tools and techniques.
• bplans.com
  A must for business planning. It gives valuable advice on marketing plans and you can download sample plans for all kinds of businesses
• business.gov.au
  This Australian site was the winner of the United Nations Public Service Award for eGovernment. It is an Australian government initiative to make it easier for Australian businesses to deal with government and provides essential information on planning, starting and running your business.
• Digital-women
  This site provides an international online community for women who run their own business, business women, and all women generally. Although the financial information provided is mostly relevant to America, there are also lots of free business resources and tools. These include links to articles covering a wide range of business topics.
• enterweb.org
  ENTERWeb is an information gateway with links to over 1400 rated sites of interest to anyone involved with small businesses or entrepreneurship and a range of other subjects
• Entrepeneur Magazine
  Has free access to newsletters and small business advice
• International Council for Small Business (ICSB)
  ICSB is committed to the free exchange of ideas and programmes through education, research, publications, management development programs and conferences among its members.
• Magportal
  Features magazine articles on entrepreneurship and products and services aimed at small businesses.
• Online women's business centre
  By combining the expertise and resources of the United States Small Business Administration with several major corporate sponsors ,we have developed a one-of-a-kind web site that will provide you with the very best information for running your business. A "one-stop shopping" site, where you can find information about everything from how to start your business to how to operate in the global market place.
• Small business info from about.com
  Every resource on the web for small business, including news, research and information, as well as Shopcenter with links to commercial services and products for running a small business.

Page last updated March 2012