Business Training and Advice Grant

Up to $5,000 to pay an expert to help you build a business plan and learn the skills.

Closes

Open — ring 0800 559 009

Who can apply

Out of work, 16 or older and not eligible for NZ Super, disadvantaged in the local labour market, and at risk of long-term benefit dependency. You must be planning to start a new business, be getting help from Work and Income to start it, and be intending to get Flexi-wage for self-employment for that same business. Ordinarily resident in New Zealand and a citizen, a resident with a residence class visa, a recognised refugee or protected person, or on a work visa in specific circumstances.

Amount

Up to $5,000 in any 52-week period. You can apply more than once within that total

Funding route

Grant

Applicants

Individuals & whānau

Before you apply

The condition that catches people is buried in the eligibility list: you have to be intending to get Flexi-wage for self-employment for the same business. This is not a standalone training grant. If Flexi-wage is not part of your plan, this is not open to you.

Work and Income pay the expert directly rather than paying you. It covers business skills training, developing the business plan, advice before and during start-up, the independent vetting report, and the mid-project financial report. Those last two are the ones Flexi-wage requires anyway, so this grant can cover the cost of meeting Flexi-wage conditions.

You can apply more than once as long as the total stays under $5,000 in a 52-week period, so it does not have to be spent in one go.

To apply you write a brief summary of your business and say what course or service you want the grant for. Simpler than most.

Sixteen and over, which is younger than most business funding reaches.

Official source →

Checked 16 September 2026

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Details change without notice. Check the funder's own page before you apply. Tōku Waka does not administer, assess or award this funding.