Knowing your future market and customers will be absolutely vital for a successful start-up.
If you are currently working in your own business, or if you have management experience in your area of work, you are already familiar with the process of establishing and running a business. This will of course be of huge advantage to you when establishing yourself in the business world in New Zealand.
However, you are entering a foreign market and are going to deal with customers from different backgrounds. You will also come across differences in company law and tax regulations, as well as some, maybe unexpected, aspects in New Zealand business etiquette. Working with experienced New Zealand business advisers and accessing their local knowledge right from the beginning will be the key to your success.
Although starting a business is relatively easy in New Zealand compared to other countries, you need to get it right.
Now you will have to think of how to market your business in the New Zealand market. Who are your customers, where can you find them and how can you approach them?
The key is understanding who your customers will be and how you can offer your service or product to them so you will ultimately make a profit. To be able to do so you need a good insight of the New Zealand market and its customers.
In New Zealand there are a few options to choose from for your business structure.
You can be a sole trader, work in a partnership or set up a limited liability company.
Starting out as a sole trader might be a good option to get started on a small scale but you will be personally liable for business debts should things not go well. Partnerships and companies are inexpensive to set up.
If you want to register a Limited Liability Company, you will do a name check first to ensure that the name you have chosen for your company is available by searching the New Zealand Companies Register at the Companies Office. It is a good idea to talk to a New Zealand lawyer and tax adviser before deciding which business structure will work best for you.
You will have to register with the Inland Revenue Department, no matter which business structure you will chose.
If your total income is going to be over $60,000 per year you must be registered for GST and file regular GST returns (1, 2 or 6 monthly). GST registered businesses must add GST to all sales and then pass the collected GST to IRD. You can claim a refund of GST paid on expenses. Your accountant will be able to set up your tax records and help you with filing your annual tax return and claiming tax deductible expenses.
If you want to employ somebody to work for you, you will have to comply with New Zealand employment law, use the appropriate employment agreements, keep records and manage pay, holidays, breaks and worker safety. Ask us if you would like to get templates, examples and links to practical tools and more detailed information.
If you want to be self-employed, an Entrepreneur Work Visa is the right program for you.
It is the first of two steps to obtain Permanent Residence in New Zealand as a business owner. Once you have been granted your Entrepreneur Work Visa and operated your business in New Zealand for two years or more, you can apply for an Entrepreneur Residence Visa. If you meet the fast track requirements of this category, you can apply after six months.
Ask our Principal Immigration Adviser Dr. Carsten Hallwass what it takes.
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Anna was worth her weight in gold---she was fantastic at helping me format my CV and search for jobs that suited my skill set. In the end, I got a great job in a great city. Carsten and his team were very thorough and helpful when it came time to apply for and get our visas. They are now helping us with our resident visas, and I'm certain that the process will be the same. I'd recommend them highly.
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