Basics
What is the difference between a company and a sole trader in New Zealand?
Updated 2026-06
A company is a separate legal entity registered on the Companies Register. A sole trader is an individual carrying on business in their own name. A sole trader may still have an NZBN, but there is no company record to check, so you confirm the person instead of an entity.
Key facts
- Companies appear on the Companies Register; sole traders do not.
- A sole trader can hold an NZBN.
- Know which one you are dealing with before you check.
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