Is STEP for You?
If you’re tired of carrying the whole business on your back…
If the business works, but only because you work…
If you’ve outgrown chaos but don’t know what the next level looks like…
If you’re thinking about succession but don’t know where to start…
The biggest cost in business isn't what you spend. It's the profit unearned, the time unrecovered, and the value left on the table.
What is the STEP Programme?
The STEP Programme is BSP’s proven, three-stage business transformation framework that helps SME owners build structure and profitability (Step Up), reduce owner dependency and regain time (Step Back), and ultimately create a valuable, sale-ready business (Step Out).
It combines practical systems, disciplined execution, and experienced advisor support to turn owner-led businesses into enterprises that work for the owner.
Step Up
Strengthen the Foundation
For owners stuck in the day-to-day.
Margins are tight and decisions depend on you.
Step Up creates clarity through better systems, numbers, and structure so the business stops relying on guesswork.
Step Back
Build a Business That Doesn't Rely on You
For owners with a solid business but no time. You’re the bottleneck and always on call.
Step Back builds leadership and accountability so the business runs without your constant involvement.
Step Out
Prepare to Transition or Exit
For long-time owners thinking ahead.
Succession, sale, or reducing involvement.
Step Out prepares the business for maximum value and a smooth transition on your terms.
In the first 90–180 days of STEP Programme, owners typically achieve:
✓ Higher margins through smarter pricing and reduced waste
✓ Reduced owner hours without sacrificing performance
✓ Greater clarity in reporting and decision-making
✓ Stronger leadership capability across your team
✓ Movement toward transition or succession readiness
STEP is a proven framework built from over 1,000 real transformations, real results, and real New Zealand businesses just like yours.
STEP is built for owners who want to lead better, not work harder.
STEP isn't a rigid timeline. It's a framework you control.
Most owners follow one of these STEP paths:
Step Up
Build a stronger, more profitable business with clarity and control.
Step Up → Step Back
Create a business that runs without you — giving back time and freedom.
Step Up → Step Out
Prepare for a confident, well-structured exit on your terms.
Step Up → Step Back → Step Out
The complete journey: a valuable, sellable business — and the freedom to enjoy life now.
You choose the direction. We bring the structure.
Today:
You run the business
Thin margins + long hours
You make every decision
Exit feels out of reach
After STEP:
The business runs itself
Higher margins + more time
Leaders drive performance
Exit becomes a real option
Meet the Advisors Behind the STEP Programme
You get a partner who has built, led, and scaled real businesses.
BSP advisors are experienced operators, not theorists. They’ve guided over 1,000 New Zealand SMEs through growth, leadership transitions, succession, and exit using the same STEP framework you’ll follow.
Every advisor is trained, supported, and accountable to BSP’s proven methodology, ensuring practical, consistent guidance tailored to where your business is today.
When you work with a BSP advisor, you’re not getting theory.
You’re working with someone who’s been where you are and knows how to move you forward.
How STEP Works
Understand Your Current Reality
We cut through assumptions and look at the facts: margins, systems, team dynamics, and where your time is actually going. Clarity here creates momentum everywhere.
Most owners feel immediate relief. For the first time, everything becomes clear.
Choose the Right Path
Together, we identify whether your focus is Step Up, Step Back, or Step Out.No templates. No pressure. Just the right path for your stage of business and life.
This is often where owners regain confidence in what’s possible.
Execute With Structure and Support
You apply the BSP framework across the levers that matter most with accountability, guidance, and proven systems.
You’re no longer doing this alone.
Review, Adjust, and Progress
Progress is reviewed regularly. As results compound, you’ll know exactly when to shift gears whether that’s stepping back or preparing to exit.
Momentum builds as confidence grows.
Choosing Your STEP Path
The STEP Programme meets you where you are and takes you where you want to go.
Every owner's journey is different. The right path depends on where you are today, where you want your business to be, and the life you want to live.
Path 1: Step Up → Build a Strong, Profitable Business
For owners in the thick of it
You’re working long hours, carrying the decisions, and margins feel tighter than they should.
The business works but it relies too heavily on you.
Step Up gives you structure, systems, and financial clarity so the business performs consistently without constant firefighting.
Path 2: Step Up → Step Back → Owner Freedom
For owners ready to step out of the bottleneck
You’ve built something solid, but everything still runs through you. You’re always on call, and time away feels risky.
Step Back builds leadership, accountability, and rhythm so the business runs well whether you’re there or not.
More space. More freedom. More control.
Path 3: Step Up → Step Out → Exit on your Terms
For owners thinking ahead
You’re starting to think about succession or sale but want to do it properly, not rushed or reactive.
Step Out prepares the business for transition, maximising value and giving you real options when the time is right.
You don’t have to decide everything today.
You just need the right structure to move forward with confidence.
The BSP Framework
Behind every successful STEP journey is the BSP Framework, the strategic and operational model that creates sustainable, scalable performance.
The STEP Programme is powered by this framework. These six levers become the engine for predictable growth. When structure meets consistency, results follow.
Products & Services
Simplify, price strategically, and improve margin
Marketing
Attract the right customers consistently with clear, focused messaging.
Sales
Convert leads reliably and predictably with a proven sales process.
People & Productivity
Build accountability and lift performance across your team.
Operations & Processes
Reduce chaos and build scalable systems that work without you.
Financial & Reporting
Gain clarity and control through accurate, timely numbers.
Here's what becomes possible when a business follows the STEP Programme with clarity, consistency, and advisor guidance.
Real Results from the STEP Programme
A Cambridge kitchen design business followed the STEP path and transitioned from owner-dependence to a well-planned succession and exit.
They entered STEP believing the business was ready to sell and quickly gained clarity on what needed strengthening first.
1. Step Up: Strengthening the Foundations
Correct pricing for sustainable margins
Clear job costing and workflows
Visibility across operations and financials
Metrics that revealed true performance
Outcome: clarity, confidence, and momentum.
2. Step Back: Creating Owner Freedom
Owner removed from daily operations
Next-generation leadership developed
Team expanded with clear roles
Owner hours reduced without sacrificing results
Outcome: a profitable business that no longer relied on the owner.
Read the full case study →
Why STEP Works When Other Approaches Fail
STEP works because it delivers what owners actually need:
✓ Clarity on where you stand and what to focus on first
✓ Direction through a proven, step-by-step pathway
✓ Support from advisors with deep operational experience across 1,000+ NZ SMEs
✓ Systems that are measurable, repeatable, and proven to work
✓ Alignment between your personal vision and your business strategy, so success doesn't come at the cost of your life
Start Your Client Needs Analysis
Your business deserves clarity and you deserve time back.
This no-cost assessment identifies your current STEP stage, the key levers that will improve performance, and a clear pathway for the next 12 months.
Every month you delay costs profit, freedom, and future exit value.
✓ No cost for the first assessment
✓ No obligation. Clarity first, then decisions
✓ Trusted by 1,000+ NZ SMEs
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the STEP Programme take?
Most owners work with us for 12–24 months depending on their goals, but meaningful improvements often begin within the first 90–180 days.
What size or type of business is STEP for?
STEP is ideal for NZ SMEs with 5–70+ staff in trade, manufacturing, service, or professional sectors. If your business relies heavily on you, STEP will help.
What if I’m not sure which STEP applies to me?
That's exactly what the assessment is for. Your advisor will identify whether you're in Step Up, Step Back, or Step Out and which levers matter most right now.
Is the first assessment really at no cost?
Yes. Clarity should never be a barrier. You receive a full assessment and direction before deciding on next steps.
What results do owners typically see?
Enter your content...Typical outcomes include stronger margins, reduced owner workload, improved team capability, clearer reporting, and progress toward transition or exit readiness. Your pathway is built for your goals.
