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Hello buddies, I know you are brilliant entrepreneur who has good profitability in business and looking to geography expand your business and honestly it’s worth it if you get proper business tools, technology and perfect market.
Are you the owner of a business in New Zealand that wants to grow or move to Australia? Australia is an appealing place for Kiwi entrepreneurs to start a business because it has a larger market, is in a good location, and has policies that are good for business.
Moving a business from New Zealand to Australia can be a big deal for business owners who want to reach a bigger market, take advantage of better economic conditions, or just see more of the world.
With more than 26 million people living there and a strong economy, it’s easy to see why many Kiwi business owners see Australia as a natural place to grow. Moving your business from New Zealand to Australia can help it grow and make more money, whether you want to start over or grow your current business.
Understaning the basics before you move business.
Hiring people in Australia.
In Australia, as in other places, you’ll have to pay taxes on the people you hire. Employers in Australia are required to put money into superannuation, which is a programme for planning for retirement. You will also be in charge of PAYG (pay as you go) withholding, which you must regularly send to the Australian Taxation Office.
Australian business owners make sure their workers can legally work in the country in addition to paying taxes and superannuation. People who are citizens of Australia, New Zealand, or who live there permanently can usually work. People from other countries might be able to work at your company, but you’ll need to make sure they have the right paperwork to work in the country.
And finally, if you’re an Australian employer, you need to know the difference between hiring workers and hiring contractors. This difference is important because it changes how you pay taxes, get superannuation, and do other things as an employer.
Income tax or Taxation.
People from other countries who live in Australia are taxed on their income that comes from Australia. Some things don’t follow this rule, though. You do not need to pay taxes on interest, dividends, royalties, or payments from which tax has been withheld. You also do not need to pay taxes on dividends that have been fully taxed. Talk to your Altus adviser if you want to know more about these exceptions.
People must live in a certain area, and businesses, trusts, and corporate limited partnerships must also go through the same process. A company set up in Australia is called a resident business. Also, if it’s not incorporated in Australia but runs a business in Australia and has its main office there, it’s considered a resident business and will be taxed accordingly.
Business visas for Australia.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection in Australia is in charge of giving out visas. As you might expect, there are different types of business visas for different reasons, depending on your business, the reason for your visit, and your plans.
Business Innovation and Investment visas are for people who are good at running a business and want to start or grow a business in Australia. To get one of these visas, the state government has to recommend you.
A Permanent Business Talent visa is also available for business owners with at least $1.5 million in nett business and personal assets who own a business in New Zealand.
Applicants must also have a business that makes at least $3 million a year. If not, applicants may also be able to get the Permanent Business Talent visa if they have at least $1 million in venture capital funding to help them start a business.
In November of this year, the Australian Government will start giving Entrepreneur Visas to people who don’t have businesses or venture capital. To get an entrepreneur visa, applicants must get money from a third party and show that they have an original, high-growth idea that can be put into action in Australia.
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Why you should move your business to australia?
Before you start thinking about how to move your business across the Tasman Sea, you should know why Australia is such a popular place for New Zealand companies to do business.
Moving your business to Australia or making it bigger is more than just crossing a border. You need to know about all the benefits and chances that Australia has to offer.
Australia has more than 26 million people, which is more than five times the number of people living in New Zealand. This means that you can reach a wider range of customers, meet a wider range of needs, and make more money.
Strong and Resilient Economy: Australia’s economy is always ranked as one of the world’s most stable and successful. It has been strong even during global economic downturns, and its high GDP per capita makes it a great place to do business.
Geography and Culture: Australia is a natural choice for Kiwi businesses because it is close to New Zealand both geographically and culturally. Language, common business ethics, and consumer habits all make the change easier.
The Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement is a two-way agreement that lets people from both countries live and work in each other’s countries. This makes it easier for businesses to move and for talented people to move between companies.
Australia is a familiar place for New Zealand businesses that want to grow, but it is also much bigger and more competitive.
Do in-depth research on the market.
Learn about the market in Australia.
Even though Australia and New Zealand have some cultural things in common, you should not assume that your products or services will automatically do well in Australia. In some niches, local brands may be the only ones that matter, and customers can be very loyal. In the case of Jill Weeks, owner of the equestrian clothing brand Plum Tack, she studied the New Zealand market before expanding there. She joined local Facebook groups and talked to people in the business to find out what people wanted. When moving to Australia, be just as careful:
- Look at your competitors to see who is the leader in your niche in Australia. Is there a need that your company can meet?
- Look at how people act: To find out what Australians value, use tools like Google Trends or social media analytics.
- Find Out What People Want: Before making a big move, you can find out what people want by doing surveys or testing your products in small groups. Look at the size and trends of the market.
Look at the size and trends of the market.
New Zealanders spent $2.78 billion online in just the first half of 2024, which shows how strong Australia’s eCommerce market is. Look at industry reports from places like Australia Post to find areas with a lot of growth, like fashion, technology, or eco-friendly products. For example, their eCommerce Sale Event Calendar shows when the biggest sales will be in 2025, which can help you decide when to launch.
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Adapt Your Marketing Strategy.
Make your brand fit the needs of Australians.
Consumer tastes are mostly the same, but there are some small differences. For instance, Australian customers might care more about sustainability or supporting local brands. Do A/B testing on your marketing campaigns to see what works best. Australia Post’s Playbook shows how brands like Hismile and PHYLLI Designs did well by being in line with local values.
Use sales events in Australia.
If you time your launch with a big sales event in Australia, like Black Friday or Boxing Day, it will get more attention. Key dates can be found on Australia Post’s 2025 eCommerce Sale Event Calendar.
Create a web presence for your business.
Optimise Your Website: Use keywords like “trans-Tasman business expansion” and “move business New Zealand to Australia” on your website to make it SEO-friendly.
Use local platforms: Put your items on auction sites like Amazon Australia or eBay Australia.
Join Australian Facebook groups or Instagram communities that are related to your business.
The Stage of Moving and Setting Up.
1.Setting up banking and finances.
This is a very important step: open an Australian business bank account. Most likely, you’ll need a credit report from your New Zealand bank. Some banks work in both countries, which makes the process easier. Online services like Airwallex also let people from New Zealand open AUD accounts.
Get a Tax File Number (TFN). This is necessary for Australian tax purposes. You can fill one out online when you get there.
Sign up for Pay As You Go (PAYG) Withholding: If you want to hire people, you’ll need to sign up for Pay As You Go (PAYG) withholding so that tax is taken out of their pay.
Strategy for Currency Exchange: Come up with a plan for how to handle currency conversions between NZD and AUD so that you lose as little money as possible when the exchange rate changes.
2. Moving your home.
Place of business:
Location: Look into good places to work based on your business, your target market, and the needs of your employees. Take things like accessibility, infrastructure, and the local population into account.
Lease or Buy: You need to decide whether to rent office, retail, or warehouse space or buy commercial property.
Fit-out and Utilities: Think about how long and how much it will cost to set up utilities like electricity, internet, and water in your new building.
3. Job Hires and Human Resources.
Moving an employee:
Visa Requirements: It’s usually easier for people from New Zealand to live and work in Australia (Special Category Visa, subclass 444). You’ll need to look into Australian business visa options for non-NZ employees, such as the Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa for longer-term jobs or the Subclass 400 (Temporary Work – Short Stay Specialist) visa for short-term needs.
Help for Staff Moving: To make the move easier for your employees and their families, you might want to offer help with housing, schooling, and general settlement.
Employment law in Australia:
National Employment Standards (NES): Australia has 10 NES that spell out minimum employment rights, such as maximum weekly hours, paid leave, public holidays, and how to terminate or be laid off.
Awards and Enterprise Agreements: Minimum wages and working conditions are set by “awards” or “enterprise agreements” in many fields and jobs. You must make sure that these are included in all of your employment contracts.
- Superannuation: Employers must put money into their workers’ superannuation accounts so they can save for retirement.
Insurance for Workers’ Compensation: You need to get insurance for workers’ compensation. - Good Faith: New Zealand has a general duty of “good faith” in employment relationships, but Australia’s rules are different. It’s very important to understand these differences, especially when it comes to personal complaints and the consultation process.
- Recruitment: Learn about how people are hired in Australia, including how to advertise, how to interview, and how to do background checks.
- Payroll and HR Systems: Set up HR management and payroll systems that work with Australia.
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Hiring and Onboarding of Employees.
When you expand your business to Australia, one of the most important things you can do to ensure long-term success is to hire and train local staff. Australia’s job market is structured, regulated, and competitive, so employers must strictly follow the law and follow the right steps.
Find out about the local job market.
First, learn about the job market in the state where you want to run your business. As an example:
Many skilled people live in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria. They work in tech, finance, education, and healthcare, among other fields.
Queensland and Western Australia have skilled people in agriculture, logistics, mining, and tourism.
The cost of labour may be different in different areas, and some jobs may be in high demand, which means they need better pay.
Follow the rules for fair work
The Fair Work Act 2009 sets minimum standards for workers in Australia. These standards are called the National Employment Standards (NES). Every worker has the right to:
- Minimum wages (changed every year)
- Maximum of 38 hours per week
- Paid time off for holidays, illness, and parenthood
- Holiday rights for the public
- Pay for being laid off (if applicable)
Also, many fields are governed by Modern Awards, which spell out extra rules that are unique to each role (for example, retail, construction, hospitality). If you don’t follow the rules, the Fair Work Ombudsman could fine you or take legal action against you.
Paid time off and benefits
On top of employees’ salaries, employers must put money into superannuation, which is Australia’s retirement savings plan. This is set at 11% of an employee’s regular pay as of 2025.
Use dependable payroll software that works with Single Touch Payroll (STP) to make sending information about salaries, taxes, and superannuation to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) easier. Examples of such software are Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks.
How to Hire People and Get Them Started: Post job openings on popular Australian job sites:
- Seek
- indeed AU
- Jora
- Gumtree (for short-term jobs)
Interviews and checking references: It’s important to do your research. In Australia, checking references is a normal part of the hiring process.
Make employment contracts. These must be in line with Fair Work Act and spell out duties, pay, and how to terminate an employee.
Getting started and onboarding:
- Set up company rules and a code of conduct
- Make sure WHS (Health and Safety at Work) training happens.
- Sign up for WorkCover Insurance (required for injury coverage at work).
- Give people access to systems, tools, and equipment.
Building a team of people who know the local rules and culture will help your business fit in better and gain credibility in the Australian market.
Set up a bank account for your business in Australia.
You need a business bank account to keep track of your company’s money, pay your employees, and get paid by clients. Lucky for us, opening a business bank account in Australia is pretty easy—as long as your company is registered and has all the legal documents it needs.
What You Need to Open a Business Bank Account?
Many times, you will need these things to open a business bank account:
- Number for your business in Australia (ABN) or your company in Australia (ACN)
- Documents for registering a business
- Identity proof, like a passport or driver’s licence
- Address for a business in Australia
- Information about the directors and shareholders
- Name of your tax file number (TFN)—not required but suggested
Some banks may also want to see a business plan, especially if you’re a new company that hasn’t done business before.
Pick the Right Bank and Type of Account.
Some of the biggest banks in Australia that offer good business banking services are
- Bank of Australia (CBA)
- NAB stands for National Australia Bank.
- ANZ stands for Australia and New Zealand Banking Group.
- Westpac
Neo-banks and fintech platforms like Revolut Business, Wise, and Airwallex also exist. These offer accounts that can be used in more than one currency, lower foreign exchange rates, and quick online setups.
You may pick from:
- Transaction accounts are used for everyday business.
- Savings accounts: to earn interest on money that isn’t being used
- To accept credit cards, you need merchant services.
- Overdraft facilities for businesses: for short-term cash flow needs
International Companies or Setting Up From Afar.
Some banks let you apply online or from afar if you’re not in Australia yet. However, most will need at least one director or authorised signatory to go to a local branch and have their identity checked in person.
If you can’t do this, you might want to work with a migration agent or banking consultant to speed up the process.
Final words!
Moving your business from New Zealand to Australia is a smart way to grow that, if done right, can unlock unimaginable opportunities. By doing the things listed above, you’ll build a strong base in the Australian market, which will lead to more sales, bigger operations, and long-term success.
