Being your own boss, Te mahi hei rangatira mōu anō

Updated 25 Mar 2024

Find out how to work for yourself – either on your own or by starting a business that employs other people.

A woman is on a phone call. She sits on a chair in front of a desk. There is a monitor, laptop, keyboard and mouse on the desk.

Why work for yourself
Ngā take o te mahi mōu anō,

Working for yourself means you can be independent, try out your ideas and set your own schedule. If you’re someone who likes to take risks and do things your own way, you might enjoy working for yourself. You could:

do freelance work
become a contractor
run your own business and hire employees.

When you work for yourself it can take some time to get going. Freelance or contract work may not always be available. Your income may not be as steady as when you work for someone else. But being your own boss and doing what you enjoy usually makes up for the challenges.

Gig and freelance work
Ngā mahi ōpaki, tākuhu anō hoki,

One of the best ways to explore your interests – and make some extra money – is to do gig or freelance work. You’re usually paid per project or piece of work. For example, you could:

tutor an ākonga in maths
paint houses
deliver food in your car.

You could also use a service like Uber to drive people or Fiverr to do creative projects.

Some people do this type of work all the time as they enjoy the variety and independence.

Freelancers like writers and graphic designers may run their own business. That means they usually:

find their own clients
manage and invoice their clients directly
do their own marketing and advertising
have their own website
have many clients or a few regular clients.

Contract work
Ngā mahi kirimana,

Contract work usually means working full time for an organisation at an hourly rate. It’s often for a fixed amount of time – from a week to several months. Contractors often work through an agency or recruiter.

Sometimes you can earn more by contracting than working for an employer permanently. It also means you need to:

do your tax accounts or pay someone to do them for you
save enough money to get through a break between contracts
buy any equipment you may need
go without the benefits of permanent employment, like holiday and sick pay.

Going contracting – business.govt.nz

Run your own business
Te whakahaere i tāu anō pakihi,

If there’s a product or a service you’d like to sell, you could start your own business. You could be the only person in your business or you could hire other people.

You need passion and energy to create a business and overcome challenges. Being resilient is important – all business owners have successes and failures. The ability to learn from your mistakes and move on is key to the success of any business.

If you've got an idea for a business, here's where to go for advice.

Questions to ask yourself before you start – business.govt.nz

Guide to starting a business – business.govt.nz