Having your primary business data available through the NZBN register means you won’t have to keep repeating your business details every time you deal with a new business, writes NZBN staff.

Meet Andre “Taco” Caraco.

Andre is a freelance designer based in the Wairarapa, better known as Taco. Even with ten years of international experience under his belt, being a sole trader means it can sometimes be sketchy proving his credibility to clients.
Taco has worked with brands like 2 Degrees and Whittaker’s but when pitching jobs to clients, he’s often up against large, well-known agencies.

It’s important for sole traders like Taco to be able to prove they’re a real business, just like the big guys – and that’s where the New Zealand Business Number comes in.
“It makes it easier for customers to reach out to me and offers certainty that my business is the real deal. Even with a name like Taco,” he jokes.

When Taco found out getting an NZBN was free, signing up was a no brainer. Having an NZBN means Taco doesn’t have to spend so much time explaining his business creds to clients.
“The beauty is now I can spend more time putting pen to paper, sketching my clients’ visions into illustrations,” says Taco.

Sole traders: benefit from having a New Zealand Business Number

If you haven’t already, now is the time for sole traders to get a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN). Over 690,000 New Zealand companies are already on the NZBN register, with registered businesses automatically issued an NZBN.  We’re urging self-employed, sole traders and other smaller entities to sign up too, so that they don’t miss out on the many benefits of being on the register.

Having an NZBN makes doing business faster

The NZBN is a globally unique identifier, available free to every Kiwi business. Whether you’re a self-employed builder or a major corporation, you’ll benefit from having an NZBN.
Your NZBN makes doing business faster and easier because it links to your core business information (known as Primary Business Data). This includes things such as your trading name, phone number and email address.

More about Primary Business Data

Having your primary business data available through the NZBN register means anyone you do business with (such as suppliers or customers) can easily access information about you. They can quickly find all the details they need about your business in order to work with you. You won’t have to keep repeating this information every time you deal with a new business. When you update your information, your contacts are notified of the changes automatically — you won’t have to contact clients individually.

More about the NZBN 

Getting an NZBN is simple and free

Some types of businesses, like registered companies, are automatically given an NZBN. Sole traders, partnerships and trusts need to sign up for one separately, but registration is free.

Register for your number on the NZBN website

Other businesses may expect you to have an NZBN

Having an NZBN isn’t yet mandatory for sole traders, but it will eventually become a standard requirement. That’s because we want to make sure New Zealand is keeping up with global business requirements. As a sole trader, you’ll increasingly find larger entities will only do business with you if you have an NZBN.

Many other countries already have their own business numbers, including Australia, the UK, Canada, Singapore, and USA. New Zealand is working to catch up. Other countries are already using the NZBN to recognise Kiwi businesses.

Domestically, NZBN is simply an effective and efficient way to deal with fellow Kiwi businesses. You can ask other businesses for their NZBN so you can be sure of exactly who you're working with.

Get more credibility for your business

Having an NZBN offers you many benefits. You’ll be easier for other businesses to find. You’ll build confidence and trust with your clients. You’ll automatically meet the trading requirements for those companies that only do business with traders on the NZBN register. An NZBN shows you’re running a real business, which gives others more confidence in working with you.

Find out more about Taco’s experience 
Do you have more questions about NZBN?
Contact NZBN by phone at 0508 696 926 or by email at info@nzbn.govt.nz.