Ontrepreneur
Newman Thomas · NZ digital builder

Helping Kiwi businesses grow with practical tools and training.

The missed calls, the unpaid invoices, the leads that go cold — the everyday stuff that quietly costs Kiwi businesses. I build the software that fixes it, so you get more leads and waste less time.

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Auckland · serving NZ & AU 10+ tools shipped Free to join & get listed
Sound familiar?

The small stuff that quietly costs you.

None of this is a "you" problem — it's a time problem. It's the jobs that never make it to the top of a flat-out day. These are the everyday business issues the tools are built to fix — here's what we hear most from Kiwi business owners.

The invoice nobody's paying

You finished the job weeks ago. The invoice is still sitting there unpaid, and chasing it feels awkward — so it drifts, and your cashflow wears it.

The call you couldn't grab

You're up a ladder, the phone rings, you can't get to it. By the time you ring back, they've booked the next name on the list.

The lead that went cold

Someone enquired, you meant to follow up, then a flat-out week swallowed it. You'll never really know what that quiet lead would've been worth.

The reviews you've earned but don't have

You do good work and your customers know it — but your Google reviews don't show it, because asking every time is the job that never gets done.

The evening lost to admin

Quotes in one app, jobs in your head, timesheets on the dash of the ute. Half your night goes on paperwork that should've sorted itself.

The no-show that wrecks the day

The diary looked full this morning. Two no-shows later there's a hole in it — and in the week's takings.

Most of these have a quiet fix that just runs in the background. That's what the tools are really about. See the tools →

About Newman

20 years in tech, in your corner.

I'm Newman Thomas — a builder and developer with 20 years in IT. I've worked across different industries, building software that businesses of every size — from small operators to large companies — actually use, and teaching owners how to put it to work.

I've run business workshops for Rebel Business School, NZ Digital Boost and Impact Hub — helping hundreds of Kiwi business owners get practical with the tools that grow a business. Ontrepreneur is where I bring all of that together: the training, the tools, and a community to grow alongside.

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Newman Thomas

Trusted to run workshops for

Three ways I help

Get listed, use the tools, or have it built.

Wherever you are, there's a door in. Start free and go as far as you want.

01 / Free

Get listed & connect

A free members directory and a community of NZ business owners. Get listed, get found, and connect with people building alongside you.

02 / Self-serve

Use the tools

Affordable software built for Kiwi businesses — SMS follow-up, Google Ads audits and more. Sign up and run it yourself.

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03 / Done for you

Have it built

Need something custom? Through NT Digital I build websites, apps, CRMs and AI automations end to end — when off-the-shelf won't cut it.

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New · For members

Your listing now comes with a leads portal.

Your directory listing isn't just a profile anymore — it's a lead machine. Every listing has a “Book a Consult” button, and when someone enquires, it lands in your own My Leads portal. We email you the moment it happens, so nothing slips through a busy inbox.

  • 1A visitor taps Book a Consult on your listing.
  • 2You get an email — full details wait in your portal.
  • 3Reply, mark contacted, and track every lead in one place.
Get your free listing

Free listing includes leads every month. Membership unlocks unlimited leads + CSV export.

How I build

Real problems, solved with software.

I work closely with business owners to understand the real problem — then prototype, plan, build and test a solution through to production. And I stay on for the training and support that makes sure it actually gets used.

1
Understand

Sit down with the owner and get to the real problem, not just the symptom.

2
Prototype

Build a quick working version to prove the idea before committing to it.

3
Design the plan

Scope the solution and map out the build, with clear, honest expectations.

4
Build in iterations

Develop in tight cycles, with you in the loop so it stays on track.

5
Test

Put it through its paces so it holds up in the real world, not just on paper.

6
Launch & support

Ship to production, train your team, and stay on to support it.

A few that are live and in use today:

KiwiTxt →

Two-way SMS and automated follow-up that keeps replying until customers do.

 MissedCall →

Turn every missed call into a text back, so a lost call isn't a lost customer.

 Go Māori →

A Trade Me–style marketplace for Māori to buy and sell — a dedicated platform supporting Māori businesses, makers and community commerce.

 CI Booking →

A booking platform for the Cook Islands — operators list accommodation, vehicles and tours, and visitors reserve and pay online in one place.

 Uniquely Cook Islands →

A Cook Islands Government platform that helps indigenous businesses get accredited to sell authentic, island-made products.

 Khab's Island →

A browser game for kids that turns maths, science and adventure into play — a side project I built for my son, Khabriel, to learn while he explores.
The tools

Software that does the boring bit.

Affordable software built for everyday Kiwi businesses — each tool takes one job you're doing by hand and just runs it for you. Start free and use what you need.

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In the toolbox
Done-for-you services

Rather hand it over? We'll build it.

When you'd sooner not DIY, my team takes it end to end — from your marketing to a custom system — with honest scopes and fixed pricing.

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On offer
What you get

Everything a Kiwi business owner needs to get noticed.

Join once and it's all here — your listing, the tools, and a community that's actually local.

Free business listing that wins you work

List free — forever — with a "Book a Consult" form built in, so enquiries come straight to you. Get a Verified tick, or upgrade to Featured to sit at the top.

Free trials, no lock-in

Try the tools free where offered, month to month. No contracts — keep what works, drop what doesn't.

Tools built for NZ

Affordable software that solves real problems — missed calls, follow-up, job management and more.

A local community

Connect with other Kiwi business owners who get it. No offshore noise — just people building here.

Your own member portal — with a leads inbox

Manage your listing, profile and tools from one dashboard — and see every enquiry your listing brings in, in your built-in My Leads portal.

Done-for-you when you need it

Hit something you can't do yourself? I build custom tools and automations through NT Digital.

Getting started

From sign-up to listed in three steps.

01

Join free

Create your free account in under a minute. No card, no catch.

02

Add your listing

Tell us about your business and pick your category. You're live in the directory.

03

Grow

Use the tools when you need them, get found in the directory, and grow.

FAQ

Questions, answered straight.

No fine print games. If something's not here, just ask.

Is it really free to join?

Yes. Joining Ontrepreneur is free, and your business listing is free — forever. The community is free too. You only ever pay if you choose to: Featured placement to sit at the top, or Membership to unlock unlimited leads.

How long does my listing stay up?

For as long as you like — listings are free and permanent. Add a photo and your business appears in the public directory with a "Book a Consult" form built in, and it stays there. No renewal fees.

Does my listing actually get me work?

That's the idea. Every listing has a "Book a Consult" form, so visitors can send you an enquiry directly. You get an email the moment one comes in, and the full details — their message and contact info — wait for you in your member portal. Your listing works as a simple lead form, not just a profile.

Is there a paid membership?

Yes, but it's optional. Your listing is free and includes a set number of leads every month. If your listing is bringing in more enquiries than that, an Ontrepreneur Membership unlocks unlimited leads, opens every lead the instant it lands, and lets you export them to CSV. Your listing finds the lead; membership helps you win it.

Who is Ontrepreneur for?

New Zealand small business owners — tradies, services, retailers, consultants, anyone running a business who wants more leads and practical help. If you're based in NZ and want to grow, you're who this is for.

Do I need a website to join?

No. Your listing is your presence here. If you don't have a website, that's fine — and a done-for-you website build is one of the tools if you want one.

What do the tools cost?

Inside your member portal there's a Tools section where you can browse the software available, each with its own pricing and a free trial where offered. You only pay for the ones you choose to use.

How do I get my listing featured?

A Featured Listing is $39/month. It pins your business above standard listings in the directory and adds a "Featured" badge, so more customers see you first. You can upgrade from the Plan & Pricing tab in your portal, and cancel anytime.

Do businesses get verified?

Yes. Every business is verified as genuine before its listing goes live — it keeps the directory trustworthy. Verified members get a green tick on their listing, and there's nothing extra to pay for it. You'll see your verification status in your portal.

How do the tools work?

Each tool solves one specific job — SMS follow-up, ad audits, and more. Browse them in the Tools section, start free where offered, and only pay for the ones you use.

Will my phone number be public?

Only if you choose. Your website shows on your listing, but your phone number stays private unless you tick the box to display it. You're in control of what's public.

Can you build something custom for me?

Yes. Through NT Digital I build custom software, AI automations, web and mobile apps, and lead funnels — end to end, with honest scopes and fixed pricing. Start a conversation and I'll tell you straight if I can help.

Fast. Honest. Local.

What people say about working with me.

Real feedback from NZ & AU businesses I've built for through NT Digital.

"Fast, efficient, affordable and honest. Highly recommended."
JLJames London
CEO, Freshee
"So helpful, patient and very professional. Worked alongside me to send my first bulk SMS campaign."
NKNatalia
CEO, 9tz Kids Clothing
"Amazing service. Built our entire automation in under two weeks. Can't wait to see what's next!"
JJJingar Jingar
CEO, Hi5 Services
Join the community

Pick off the jobs that keep slipping.

The overdue invoices, the missed calls, the follow-ups that never happen — start free and sort them one at a time, with a directory of real Kiwi businesses alongside you and the tools there when you need them.

Join Ontrepreneur free Browse members