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.
In the first 90–180 days, 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
And one owner tripled profit and completed succession in 24 months. Full story below.
Step Up
Strengthen the Foundation
For owners who feel stuck in chaos. Margins are tight, everything depends on you, and you need control, systems, and clarity. Step Up gives you the foundation to finally run your business with confidence.
Step Back
Build a Business That Doesn't Rely on You
For owners who have a good business but no freedom. You're the bottleneck, always on call, and want a stronger leadership layer so the business thrives without your constant involvement.
Step Out
Prepare to Transition or Exit
For long-time owners considering succession, sale, or reducing their involvement over the next few years. Step Out prepares your business for maximum value and a smooth transition.
Why STEP Works, When Other Approaches Fail
Most business owners don't need more inspiration. They don't need another motivational seminar or a shelf full of business books. What they need is structure, accountability, real numbers, a clear roadmap, and hands-on advisor support from someone who's been in the trenches.
Generic coaching often falls short because it lacks specificity. Owners drown in noise, trial-and-error, and uncertainty. They try harder, work longer, and still feel stuck. STEP is different because it's built on a proven blueprint, not theory.
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
STEP isn't theory. It's 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.
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
A Clear Path Forward
No More Guesswork, No More Chaos
Most owners don’t need more ideas. They need structure.
The STEP Programme gives you a clear, proven pathway from where you are today to where you want your business (and your life) to be. Whether your next move is to Step Up, Step Back, or Step Out, the framework below shows the journey that over 1,000 NZ business owners have already walked.
STEP isn't a rigid timeline. It's a framework you control.
Your pathway depends on where you are in life, not just in business. Whether you're rebuilding foundations, reclaiming your time, or preparing for what's next, STEP meets you where you are and moves at your pace. You choose what matters most. We help you get there.
Step Up only → A well-run, more profitable business with clarity and control
Step Up → Step Back → business that runs without the owner, giving you time and freedom
Step Up → Step Out → A strong, well-prepared exit on your terms
Step Up → Step Back → Step Out → The best of both: a valuable, sellable business and the freedom to enjoy life now
You choose. We guide. And the journey remains yours, shaped by what matters most to you.
What Makes BSP's STEP Programme Different
There's no shortage of business advice out there. But advice without experience, structure, and accountability rarely changes anything. Here's why STEP delivers results where others fall short.
1,000+ NZ SME Journeys
Our framework is built on real transformations across trade, service, manufacturing, and professional businesses throughout New Zealand.
Advisors With Deep Operational Experience
Not theorists. Not motivational speakers. BSP advisors have run businesses, managed teams, and navigated the same challenges you face.
A Proven Blueprint That Works Across Industries
The STEP framework adapts to your business, your industry, and your goals, while maintaining the structure that drives results.
Personal + Business Alignment
We start with your life goals, not just business metrics. Because a successful business that costs you everything isn't success.
Strategy + Execution + Accountability
Planning is only the beginning. We work alongside you to implement, measure, and adjust until results become reality.
A Track Record of Measurable Results
Higher margins. Reduced owner hours. Successful exits. Stronger teams. We measure what matters, and we deliver.
Understand Your Current Reality
We cut through assumptions and look at the real numbers: your margins, systems, team dynamics, and where 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 (Step Up / Step Back / StepOut)
Your advisor helps you match your life goals with the right business strategy. No cookie-cutter approach, just a pathway that fits you, your stage of life, and where you want to be.
This is often the moment owners finally see a future they trust.
Work the Plan Together
You'll apply the BSP Framework across the six levers that matter most, with accountability, structure, and a guide who's done this hundreds of times.
No more doing it alone. Your advisor guides implementation with proven systems.
Review, Adjust, and Move Forward
Progress is reviewed regularly. As confidence builds and results compound, you'll know exactly when to shift gears, whether that's Step Back or Step Out.
Momentum builds as results appear and confidence grows.
How STEP Works
Most owners don't lack capability. They lack structure. Without a clear process, even the best intentions get lost in the daily grind. STEP gives you a proven pathway so every decision moves you forward with purpose.
How STEP Works
Most owners don't lack capability. They lack structure. Without a clear process, even the best intentions get lost in the daily grind. STEP gives you a proven pathway so every decision moves you forward with purpose.
Understand Your Current Reality
We cut through assumptions and look at the real numbers: your margins, systems, team dynamics, and where 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 (Step Up / Step Back / StepOut)
Your advisor helps you match your life goals with the right business strategy. No cookie-cutter approach, just a pathway that fits you, your stage of life, and where you want to be.
This is often the moment owners finally see a future they trust.
Work the Plan Together
You'll apply the BSP Framework across the six levers that matter most, with accountability, structure, and a guide who's done this hundreds of times.
No more doing it alone. Your advisor guides implementation with proven systems.
Review, Adjust, and Move Forward
Progress is reviewed regularly. As confidence builds and results compound, you'll know exactly when to shift gears, whether that's Step Back or Step Out.
Momentum builds as results appear and confidence grows.
Inside the STEP Programme
For Your Business:
A stronger, more profitable operation that doesn't depend on you for everything
Weekly and monthly reporting that gives you confidence and control, not confusion
Systems that eliminate guesswork and create consistent, reliable performance
Healthier margins, better cash flow, and pricing you can stand behind with confidence
A team that knows what to do, does it without constant direction, and takes ownership
For You (the Owner):
Less stress, less firefighting, and more mental bandwidth to lead with clarity
Time back for thinking, for family, for the life you built this business to create
Freedom to work on your business, not just in it, with confidence in what's next
Confidence that your business has a future with or without you in it daily
A clear pathway to succession or sale, when the time is right, on your terms
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 → Strong, Profitable Business
~ For owners in the thick of it
You're working long hours, making every decision, and margins feel tighter than they should. You want control, clarity, and a business that actually works for you.
Step Up gives you the systems, structure, and confidence to finally run your business instead of letting it run you.
Path 2: Step Up → Step Back → Owner Freedom
~ For owners who've earned the right to step away
You've built something real, but you're still the bottleneck. Everything flows through you and you're always on call.
Step Back helps you elevate leadership, reduce your hours, and create a business that performs whether you're there or not. More time. More freedom. More life.
Path 3: Step Up → Step Out → Exit or Succession
~ For owners looking toward the horizon
Whether it's family succession, a trade sale, or simply reducing involvement, you want to exit on your terms.
Step Out prepares your business for transition with maximum value and minimum stress. Protect your legacy. Exit with confidence and peace of mind.
Not sure which path fits?
Your first assessment will help you identify the right one.
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 maximise margin on what you deliver.
Marketing
Attract the right customers consistently with messaging that resonates.
Sales
Convert leads reliably and predictably with a proven sales process.
People & Productivity
Lift capability, accountability, and 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 Stories from the STEP Programme
Case Study: How STEP Transformed a Small Waikato Auto Service Business
From $150K to $400K Net Profit in 24 Months
This 15-year-old family-owned auto service business in a small Waikato town had been stable but stagnant, earning modest profit and offering little time or freedom for its owners. They approached BSP Advisory seeking an exit plan.
STEP 1 – Step Up: Strengthening the Foundations
Through the BSP Success Programme (the foundation of Step Up), BSP rebuilt the business from the ground up:
Correct pricing for sustainable margins
Better workflows and job costing
Clearer operational and financial visibility
Tracking metrics that finally revealed true performance
Outcome: renewed confidence, clarity, and a sense of what was actually possible.
STEP 2 – Step Back: Building a Lifestyle Business
As the business strengthened, the owners' son expressed serious interest in ownership. Instead of exiting, they worked with BSP to:
Shift the owner out of day-to-day work
Develop the son into a capable leader
Add new team members
Reduce hours for the co-owner
Build a structure that created freedom
The Results
In two years, the business:
Grew turnover from $500K → $1.2M
Increased net profit from $150K → $400K
Tripled in value
Acquired its premises
Completed a successful 50% succession to the next generation
Introduced a four-day workweek and regular holidays
STEP didn't just change the business.
It changed a family's future.
Meet the Advisors Behind the STEP Programme
You don't get another "business coach." You get a partner who has run businesses through the exact challenges you're facing.
BSP's advisors are experienced operators, not theorists. They've guided over 1,000 NZ SMEs through stability, scale, succession, and exit.
Each advisor is certified and supported by BSP's proven frameworks, ensuring consistent and practical guidance tailored to your situation.
When you work with a BSP advisor, you're not getting theory. You're getting someone who's been where you are and knows how to help you move forward.
Start Your Client Needs Analysis
Your business deserves clarity and you deserve time back.
Your no-cost assessment will reveal your STEP stage, the biggest levers that will shift your performance, and the pathway that will create momentum for the next 12 months.
Every month you delay costs profit, freedom, and exit value you can't get back.
✓ 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.
