Bossit launches Start-up Navigator for NZ small firms

Early guidance

Bossit has launched Start-up Navigator, a digital platform for New Zealand small businesses created by Rotorua business owners Glenn McLeary and Miriam Hewson.

Aimed at businesses in the early stages of formation, the tool is designed to guide owners through key set-up decisions.

McLeary and Hewson developed the product after years working in business, branding and finance, where they saw founders struggle to build solid foundations. In their view, early problems often stem from a lack of practical guidance rather than a shortage of ideas or effort.

Start-up Navigator breaks the process of starting a business into 13 steps, covering areas including business structure, tax, branding, marketing and financial planning.

AI-powered planning

The platform combines short video guidance, interactive tools and artificial intelligence that adapts to each user's business. It also includes links to registrations and other resources, budgeting and planning tools, and optional support from advisers described as navigators.

According to Bossit, the end result is a business plan intended to help owners make decisions and support discussions with banks and advisers.

McLeary said the idea had been in development for several years, with recent advances in technology and artificial intelligence making it possible to deliver the product in its current form.

"We've both spent years building and selling our own businesses, and working alongside hundreds of others," said Glenn McLeary, Founder, Bossit.

"What we consistently saw was that many people were navigating the start-up phase without clear guidance."

New Zealand has a large base of small and owner-operated businesses, and support services for start-ups range from public advisory programmes to private consultants and online tools. Bossit is positioning its platform as a structured, localised option focused on practical tasks tied to New Zealand business requirements.

Local business focus

Hewson said the aim was to give founders a clearer basis for decision-making from the outset.

"This isn't about theory or overwhelming people with information," said Miriam Hewson, Founder, Bossit.

"It's about giving business owners clarity so they can make better decisions early on."

The business is also engaging with local business communities, chambers of commerce and economic development groups across New Zealand as it seeks wider uptake. The founders see stronger business preparation as linked to more durable local firms and broader economic resilience.

The argument reflects a familiar challenge for small business owners: many launch with strong technical or trade skills but limited experience in areas such as compliance, branding, cashflow forecasting and planning. Products that package those requirements into a single workflow have become more common as software companies try to reduce the administrative burden on small firms.

Economic resilience

"We wanted to create something simple, practical, and genuinely useful," said McLeary.

"Not another course people start and never finish."

"If we can help even a small percentage of businesses start better and last longer, that has a real impact - not just for those owners, but for communities and the wider economy," added Hewson.