You might be running something small already, or still turning the idea over. This covers structures, a business plan, bookkeeping, GST and Xero, with marketing to follow. A sensible first step, without the jargon.
Structure, a plan and a chart of accounts before the first invoice. Far easier than untangling it later.
If the books are a shoebox, the bookkeeping and Xero modules are the fix. Reconciliation and reporting included.
You do not need a finished business idea. The planning module works one out with you.
Most New Zealand businesses are small, and most of them run on Xero. That makes these skills useful whether you start something or help someone else run theirs. The work is quoting, invoicing, chasing payments, watching the numbers and finding the next customer.
Your own thing, set up right from day one.
Keeping the books for other small operators.
Helping put plans and forecasts together.
Backing founders inside a support service.
Chasing growth and keeping the pipeline moving.
Roles where these skills are useful, not promised outcomes. Every role is different, and some need more study or experience. The college notes this course does not replace an accountant, and it is not legal or tax advice for New Zealand.
Three things this one does that a business book does not.
Chart of accounts, contacts, invoices, quotes, purchases, reconciliation and reporting.
The bookkeeping module covers GST, which is where most new operators get stung.
Digital marketing with AI unlocks after the core work: content, Google, Meta and conversion.
Certificate of Achievement · The Career Academy
Awarded by the college on completion.
A link in the platform you can share on SEEK.
Built module by module on your own idea.
An advisor walks through the five parts and the optional one.
Online or by phone. Weekly plan, or pay upfront in full.
Structure, plan, bookkeeping and GST, in that order.
Set up the file, send the first invoice, and reconcile it.
No. The planning module works one out with you, and no business background is expected.
From only $29 a week on a plan, with no deposit and no credit check. Enquire for current pricing.
About 80 hours of study, with six months of access.
No. The Certificate in Xero starts at the chart of accounts and works through to reporting.
It unlocks after the core modules, so treat it as a bonus once the main work is behind you.
No, and it is worth being upfront about that. What it does is let you keep clean books, understand GST and talk to your accountant as an equal, which usually costs you less. It is not legal or tax advice for your own situation, so keep a qualified adviser for that.
It carries a Certificate of Achievement, and the college is an ICOES accredited centre with Official Accreditation from the CPD Standards Office, plus IARC registration. That is accreditation for professional development. It is not NZQA accredited, so it is not a national qualification. Those are different things, and the college is a Xero Partner, which is what matters for the software half.
Yes. A 10-day money back guarantee runs from enrolment.
You enrol through The Career Academy, an online college in New Zealand, and the college delivers this course itself.
The Career Academy has run for over 15 years and helps more than 25,000 students a year. It is a Xero Partner and an MYOB Approved Education Partner, which is why the software half runs on Xero.
Picture the first invoice you send from your own file, and the payment landing without you chasing it.