The Programme
The full journey
Over one structured cohort cycle, we walk you from a skill or trade sitting in your head to a properly set-up, registered, funded trading business — then stay alongside you with ongoing mentor support after the cohort ends.
Months 1–2: Get clear on what you're selling and who needs it.
Months 2–3: Sort your admin systems and paperwork habits.
Month 3: Register with IRD and understand your tax obligations.
Month 4: Explore funding options and make your first funding decisions.
Throughout: Build the confidence and mindset to keep going when things feel uncertain.
After: Keep your mentor — ongoing support as your business grows.
Idea to Business Model
Turn skill into offer
You know how to do something well. This module takes that skill and shapes it into a clear, sellable offer that people will pay for. We help you describe exactly who it's for, what problem you're solving, and why someone would choose you over anyone else.
Cost and pricing
Every business needs to know what it costs to deliver what it sells. We work through the real numbers — materials, time, overheads — so you can price with confidence and actually make money. No guessing, no underselling yourself.
Find your first customers
A clear offer and a solid price are only the start. We show you how to talk to the people who need what you do, build a simple plan to reach them, and land your first paying jobs with confidence.
Admin & Paperwork Made Simple
Invoicing that actually works
An invoice is not a secret code. We show you the plain systems for sending them, tracking who owes you, and following up so you get paid on time. Most people put this off — we make it simple enough that you won't.
Keep records without fuss
IRD and your accountant will ask for your records. We teach you a straightforward way to keep them — what to save, where to file it, and how to stay organised without becoming obsessive. The habit takes two weeks to build.
Bookkeeping you can actually do
You don't need to be 'good with numbers' to understand your own business. We cover simple bookkeeping — income, expenses, profit — in plain English, so you know exactly where you stand without hiring an accountant just yet.
Tax & IRD Essentials
Registering correctly
IRD registration sounds official and scary. It's neither. We walk you through exactly when you need to register, what it means for your business, and how to do it step by step so you know it's done right.
What to set aside and when
Tax is not a surprise if you plan for it. We show you how much to expect to owe based on what you're earning, and how to put it aside without pain so it's ready when IRD asks.
Fear into action
Many people avoid dealing with tax because they're afraid of getting it wrong. That fear is the real problem — not the paperwork. We replace it with steady, practical confidence so you stay on top of what you owe and when.
Funding, Loans & Investors
Loans and what they really mean
Borrowing to start or grow your business is not failure — it's a real tool. We walk through how bank loans, government schemes and other funding work, what you're actually signing up for, and how to decide if it's right for you.
Grants and what to look for
Grant funding exists, and it doesn't always come with strings. We show you where to find legitimate grants for your type of business, what you actually need to do to apply, and how to tell a real opportunity from a scam.
Investor conversations without fear
Bringing someone in to fund your growth is a real option. We teach you how to think about it, what to expect in a conversation, and how to negotiate a deal where you're not giving away your business to get the money you need.
Confidence & Staying the Course
The mindset thread
Running a business means facing doubt — about money, about whether you're good enough, about risk. This module runs alongside every other one, building the steady confidence you need so fear doesn't turn into avoidance.
Replace stories with facts
Most fear of business comes from stories we tell ourselves — "I'll go broke," "I'll get into trouble with tax," "I'm not a real businessperson." We replace those stories with actual facts and experience so you can move forward with real confidence.
Mentor support that lasts
The cohort ends, but we don't leave you. Your mentor stays available for ongoing support as your business grows — the questions change, and so does the support, but the relationship is there for the long term.
Ready to turn your skill into a real business?
The next cohort starts soon. See the timetable, meet the mentors, or ask any question.