Free financial mentoring for people under real pressure. Paid for by our business services.
We are a registered New Zealand charity in Whanganui. Every dollar a business pays us for mentoring, bookkeeping or a website funds free one-on-one financial mentoring for someone who could never afford it.
Charity Registration CC64867 · In person in Whanganui, online anywhere in Aotearoa
Business pays. Whānau don't.
Most mentoring organisations charge everybody, or they live on grants and run out. We built something that pays for itself. Commercial work funds charitable work, in the same building, by the same people.
Business services
Mentoring, bookkeeping, financial operations, consulting, business and marketing plans, and website builds. Real work for businesses that need clarity and structure.
Financial mentoring
One-on-one and group financial capability mentoring for individuals, families and micro-businesses under pressure. Plain language, no judgement, at your pace.
Good Shepherd NZ & Ngā Tangata Microfinance
Partnerships that let us connect clients to microfinance and support beyond what mentoring alone can do.
Hire us for your business and you are quietly paying for someone else's fresh start.
See what we doWhat we actually do
Nine services across two tracks. The free ones stay free. The paid ones are priced on scope, because a one-page cash flow fix and a full business plan are not the same job.
Free financial mentoring
One-on-one support to build confidence with money, understand your obligations and reduce financial stress.
Free · funded by our paid workGroup financial capability
Free group programme building practical money skills, decision-making and resilience for people and whānau.
Free · paid version for organisationsBusiness mentoring
Personalised one-on-one mentoring to set goals you will actually hit, work through what is stuck, and grow with someone in your corner.
Priced on scope · free first chatFinancial mentoring & bookkeeping
Understand your numbers and keep them tidy. Budgeting, cash flow, pricing, and the bookkeeping to back it up.
Priced on scopeFinancial operations & growth
For businesses past the start-up stage that need their financial operations to hold up as they grow.
Priced on scopeBusiness consultation
Consulting tailored to your industry and growth stage, from a mentor who has run the numbers in the real world.
Priced on scope · free first chatBusiness & marketing plans
Clear, practical, well-structured plans you can take to a funder, a bank, or your own Monday morning.
Priced on scopeWebsite design & build
Clean, functional websites tailored to your brand and goals. Donation-supported, which keeps them within reach.
Donation-supportedOnline mentoring
Everything above, delivered by video, phone and shared documents, anywhere in New Zealand.
Nationwide · Mon–ThursNot sure which one you need? That is what the free first conversation is for.
Contact us to discuss
Three steps, and the first one costs nothing.
A free conversation
Sixty minutes, no obligation, nothing to sign. We listen to where you are, what is in the way, and what you want to be true in a year.
A plan that fits you
We build a personalised mentoring plan. Regular sessions, a business or financial plan, or a short sharp piece of work to get you unstuck.
Ongoing support
Some people work with us for a few weeks to get clarity. Others stay for years for the accountability. Both are fine. You decide the pace.
No referral. No means test. No cost.
If money is causing you stress, you can book free one-on-one financial mentoring right now. You do not need to be in business. You do not need to be referred by anyone.
We work in plain language, at whatever pace suits, in a supportive and non-judgemental setting. Budgeting, cash flow, understanding what you owe, and building the confidence to make decisions.
It is funded by the businesses who hire us, and it stays free no matter how many people ask.
What I've appreciated most is how personalised the guidance has been. It never felt generic. Kerry understands my vision, my values around community and education, and the realities of running a hands-on adventure tourism business.Mentoring client
You get a person, not a match from a database.
Larger mentoring services pair you with whoever is available from a list of hundreds. Here you know exactly who is sitting across the table before you book.
Kerry Delaney
I’m a business and financial mentor based in Whanganui, Aotearoa’s UNESCO City of Design, and the founder of Small Business Mentoring. Through my business mentoring I support business owners, start‑ups and community organisations turn ideas into confident action and build sustainable, resilient enterprises. Through my financial mentoring I help individuals, families and businesses strengthen their money‑management skills and build confidence in their financial decision‑making. I’m proud of the clients who arrive feeling overwhelmed and leave with renewed confidence, direction, and belief in what they can achieve.
Over the past two years I’ve volunteered with City Mission Whanganui, Whanganui Budget Advisory Service, Volunteer Whanganui, Manawatū‑Whanganui Emergency Management, Business Mentors New Zealand, and supported Precious Paws with rehoming 24 cats living rough behind a local business. Community impact takes many forms, and I’m grateful to contribute where I can. Outside of mentoring I’m an owner‑builder restoring our 1905 Victorian villa.
Kerry on LinkedIn
Amelia Harris
Amelia is a lawyer and data privacy specialist, currently serving as Director of GenPrivacy. In this role she helps organisations in both the government and private sectors navigate their privacy and data protection obligations in practical terms.
Residing in Palmerston North with her husband and two young daughters, Amelia is passionate about enhancing local business ecosystems and ensuring individuals have access to trusted guidance as they grow. In her volunteer role with Small Business Mentoring she brings her governance experience to help build resilient and sustainable support for all New Zealanders who use our services across Aotearoa.
Amelia on LinkedInBased in the UNESCO City of Design.
Our office is on the corner of Victoria Avenue and Guyton Street, in the Tower Building. You are welcome to come in.
We work with clients right across Aotearoa in:
- Office
- Tower Building, Level 1
76 Guyton Street (cnr Victoria Avenue)
Whanganui 4500 - Phone
- 027 252 7646
- help@smallbusinessmentoring.co.nz
- In office
- Monday to Thursday, 9am – 2pm
- Online
- Monday to Thursday, 9am – 4pm
- After hours
- By appointment
The things people ask before they book.
What does Small Business Mentoring do?
We provide personalised one-on-one business and financial mentoring to help you gain clarity, set achievable goals, overcome challenges, and build a sustainable, resilient business. Our support includes business planning, financial capability, marketing plans, and practical guidance tailored to your unique situation.
Who do you work with?
We support business owners, start-ups, sole traders, community organisations, and individuals who want to strengthen their business or financial capability. Whether you are just starting a business or looking to grow, we can help you move forward with confidence.
Is there a cost for mentoring?
We provide various mentoring options, including funded, donation-supported, and paid services. Our free financial mentoring is always free. During your initial conversation we can discuss your specific needs to determine the best choice for you.
How does the mentoring process work?
Mentoring begins with an initial conversation to understand your goals, challenges, and needs. From there, we create a personalised mentoring plan that may include regular sessions, business or financial planning, and ongoing support to help you take practical steps toward your goals.
Do you offer financial mentoring as well as business mentoring?
Yes. We provide one-on-one financial mentoring to help you understand your numbers, improve your financial capability, and make informed decisions. This includes budgeting, cash-flow planning, pricing, and financial literacy support.
Do you work with clients outside Whanganui?
Yes. We support clients across New Zealand through online mentoring sessions, phone calls, and digital collaboration tools.
Do you help with business and marketing plans?
Absolutely. We work alongside you to develop clear, practical, and well-structured business and marketing plans. These documents are tailored to your goals and can be used for funding applications, strategic planning, or day-to-day decision-making.
Do you offer website design and build packages?
Yes. We provide website design and build packages to help small businesses establish a strong, professional online presence. Our websites are clean, functional, and tailored to your brand and goals. These packages are supported by donations, making them an accessible option for new and growing businesses.
Can you help me start my small business in New Zealand?
Yes. Small Business Mentoring is a New Zealand non-profit charity that offers a personalised one-on-one business mentoring program with an experienced mentor. The cost is only $295.00 plus GST for your annual business mentoring subscription.
Do you provide personalised business coaching to turn my hobby into a profitable venture?
Yes. We specialise in creative entrepreneurship and micro-business scaling. We provide a specific framework needed to transition you from being a passionate creator to a structured business owner.
Is mentoring confidential?
Yes. All mentoring conversations and documents are treated with complete confidentiality. Your information is never shared without your permission.
How long does mentoring last?
The duration depends on your goals. Some clients work with us for a short period to gain clarity or complete a business plan, while others continue long-term for ongoing support and accountability.
How do I get started?
Simply contact us to book an initial conversation. We will talk through your goals, challenges, and what kind of support will help you the most. It takes sixty minutes, it is free, and there is nothing to sign.
Who are your business partners?
We collaborate with Good Shepherd New Zealand, Ngā Tangata Microfinance, genPrivacy, NZQBA, and others. We are a Google Workspace Partner and a Squarespace Circle Silver Partner. These partnerships let us offer broader support, connect clients with additional services, and contribute meaningfully to our local and regional communities.
Ngā Tangata Microfinance
Where there's a WILL, there's a way.
Book a free 60-minute conversation. Bring the thing that is keeping you up. We will tell you honestly whether we can help, and if we can't, who can.
No obligation · Nothing to sign · In person in Whanganui or online anywhere in Aotearoa