Jeremy Tauri: Free stuff that will pay off

Jeremy Tauri

Who doesn't like free stuff?

Good news — there's lots of free business-related support you can get. The most it will cost you is a bit of time.

A free breakfast — BNI stands for Business Networking International and throughout NZ there are around 130 weekly meetings taking place. It shouldn't be too hard to find a meeting close to you.

Ultimately they are business meetings to share referrals among the group. You'll have to talk about your business for 60 seconds but the first breakfast meeting you attend is free. It is possible to get a free membership — ask about their scholarship.

Some free business advice — Banks have generally been overlooked for the free business advice they give — although the advice may not be specific, they are usually well connected in the business world and can provide some direction and have some useful resources on their website. While you're at the bank you can talk to them about KiwiSaver and the next freebie.

A free $521.43. Lots of self-employed people seem to skip the scheme thinking there's little benefit in it for them. But if you contribute $1042.86 a year to your KiwiSaver fund and are eligible then you can receive the $521 member tax credit.

Free accounting software — okay so this next one's only free for 30 days but it is possible to get a lot of information from a trial period especially if you don't think you'll commit. But if you're still running an Excel sheet or a notepad I suggest you use the free Xero trial.
A free comprehensive business assessment and an award.

Around the country the Chambers of Commerce hold business excellence awards. While the commitment is time, you'll receive some valuable advice from experts in various industries in the area. Check your regional chamber for dates.

Jeremy Tauri is an associate at Plus Chartered Accountants.