If you’re a small business owner wearing all the hats (CEO, customer service, social media manager, accountant, barista… you get the idea), you might have heard about Regional Business Partners (RBP) Network funding.
Government-backed support to help grow your business? Yes please. But here’s the truth: RBP funding is not the right fit for every business.
Let’s break down what it actually is, and who it’s really good for.
What Is RBP Funding?
The Regional Business Partners Network is a NZ government initiative that helps small-to-medium businesses grow by:
- Connecting you with a local Growth Advisor
- Co-funding capability-building services (like marketing training, digital strategy, or planning)
- Helping you upskill in areas of your business you want to handle yourself
If approved, you can get up to 50% off certain training or strategy services from registered providers (like us).
So, Who Is RBP Great For?
RBP funding is ideal if you:
- Have a small budget, but plenty of time and energy to learn
- Want to DIY your marketing, but need a little guidance to do it right
- Are motivated to try new tools, test new strategies, and figure things out as you go
- Are in that “I can’t quite afford to outsource yet, but I know I need to get better at marketing” stage
In short: You’re not afraid of rolling up your sleeves, you just want someone to point you in the right direction (and ideally save you from a few rookie mistakes).
Who is RBP not right for?
RBP isn’t for everyone. If any of this sounds familiar, it might not be the best fit for right now:
- You’re time-poor, juggling a million things, and can barely manage your inbox, let alone a marketing plan
- You don’t have the capacity (or desire) to learn how to run ad campaigns, write content, or analyse data
- You’re looking for someone to just take it off your plate and handle it all for you so you can focus on doing what you do best
RBP is about building your capability, not doing the work for you. If your bandwidth is already maxed, trying to DIY your marketing, no matter how good the training, is only going to lead to burnout or half-finished campaigns.
RBP funding is amazing for small businesses that are not quite ready to outsource, but keen to learn and grow.
But if your business needs real, hands-on execution? You’re likely better off investing in outsourcing.
Not sure which path is right for you?
Book a free chat with us. We’ll help you figure out if RBP is worth pursuing or if it’s time to get some expert help in your corner.
Whichever stage you’re at, we’ve got your back.
