Guides
Guides for the businesses on the square
Researched, written for New Zealand main-street businesses, and honest about what lenders look at. New guides added regularly.
PremisesBuying a businessCash flow
Commercial Lease Checklist for NZ Shops & Cafés (2026)
A plain-English commercial lease checklist for NZ shop, café and salon owners: term, renewals, rent reviews, bonds, guarantees and make-good.
3 October 2026
Buying an Existing Café in NZ: Due Diligence Checklist
What to check before buying a café in New Zealand: real takings, costs, the lease, food registration, equipment, staff, stock at valuation and how to fund it.
3 October 2026
First-Year Costs for NZ Shops & Cafés: Bills Nobody Mentions
The costs that catch new NZ shop, café and salon owners out in year one: GST, provisional tax, ACC levies, KiwiSaver, licence renewals and rent reviews.
3 October 2026
How to Budget a Shop or Café Fit-Out in NZ (Step by Step)
A step-by-step guide to budgeting a fit-out for a NZ shop, café, salon or clinic: scope, quotes, consents, contingency, GST timing and funding.
3 October 2026
When Trade Drops Suddenly: A 30-Day Plan for NZ Shops
A practical 30-day plan for NZ café, shop and salon owners when takings fall suddenly: cash, landlord, suppliers, IRD and recovery funding.
3 October 2026
Using POS Reports to Plan Cash & Borrow (NZ Shops & Cafés)
Which POS reports NZ cafés, shops and salons should pull to plan cash flow, spot seasonal gaps, set GST aside and strengthen a funding request.
3 October 2026Let's see what your shop could qualify for
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