Most people start importing by looking for products. The smarter first step is getting your business set up so your first shipment does not get stuck waiting on paperwork. Here is the setup checklist I walk new importers through before they pay a factory deposit.
1. Decide: sole trader or company
You can import as a sole trader, but many importers choose a limited company so the business is separate from their personal assets. Companies are registered online through the NZ Companies Office: you reserve a name, complete the incorporation application, and directors and shareholders sign their consents. Talk to your accountant about which structure suits you before you register.
2. Get your NZBN
Your New Zealand Business Number is the identifier suppliers, freight forwarders and government agencies use to find your business. Companies are allocated one when they register; sole traders can apply for one free through nzbn.govt.nz.
3. Work out whether you need to register for GST
Inland Revenue says you must register for GST if your turnover was at least $60,000 in the last 12 months or you expect it to be at least $60,000 in the next 12 months (IRD: Registering for GST). You can also register voluntarily below that. For importers this matters: GST is charged on imported goods at the border, and if you are GST-registered you can usually claim it back in your GST return.
4. Get a Customs client code
New Zealand Customs says that if you are importing goods worth more than NZ$1,000, you need a client code and a supplier code (NZ Customs: Register as a commercial importer). Many importers let their customs broker handle the entry, but having your client code sorted early avoids delays when your container lands.
5. Check whether your product needs extra permits
Some goods need more than a Customs entry. Food, timber, plants and anything that could carry pests may need Ministry for Primary Industries clearance; electrical products have safety requirements too. Check business.govt.nz: Importing laws for your product category before you order.
6. Set up the money side
- A business bank account that can send international payments (most Chinese factories invoice in USD).
- A simple landed-cost spreadsheet so you know your real cost per unit. My guide on what landed cost is walks you through it.
- Accounting software set up from day one, so GST and import costs are tracked properly.
Pacific businesses
If you are based in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga or elsewhere in the Pacific, the steps are similar but the agencies are different: business registration, tax registration and your local customs authority. I help Pacific clients line these up alongside sourcing, so the first order lands smoothly.
Ready to start?
Once these are in place, you are ready to source. Read how to import from China to NZ for the next steps, or book a free first chat and I will check your setup with you.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Check your situation with your accountant.