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Business mentor SARAH TROTMAN is planning a $28 million mall that offers small business owners the best services available - and space to see the bigger picture.

A one-stop shop for those navigating their way around the myriad of business support services would seem a dream come true.

Sarah Trotman, a former Business in the Community chief executive, is planning just such a place in Auckland.

Trotman, now of the Spring Group, has worked in small business and economic development for five years and also owned her own business.

She estimates there are more than a thousand trade associations, large corporates, business consultants, education providers and Government and media initiatives targeting small business owners.

She plans to bring them together through the development of a $28 million dedicated business mall.

In her role with Business in the Community, a free business mentoring organisation, Trotman worked with more than 1500 business mentors providing support to over 4000 businesses a year across a range of sectors.

"The constant themes were feelings of isolation, being overworked and not having time to sit back and take a helicopter view. Simply sourcing products and business support services took a lot of time out of a business."

Trotman says the range of support services is extensive and varied, giving business owners considerable choice, depending on the stage of their business development.

"The Chambers of Commerce and Employers and Manufacturers Associations are both very well established organisations with great networking reach. There are also more boutique-style companies emerging that specialise in intensive one-on-one commercial services, such as Business Lab and ICON Business Solutions."

Trotman's message to business owners is simple: "Give yourself the time you need to take a high-level view of your business. We are all guilty of getting to the point in our business where we can't see the wood for the trees.

"Business owners often don't have clarity about where they want their business to be in, say, three years. They don't have a business plan and even if they sat down to write one they would really struggle to know what it should contain.

"Tapping into some of the resources for business growth could be the best thing they have done this month."

She says the Spring Group proposes to bring together service and product retail outlets, meeting and hosting facilities for business owners and like-minded entrepreneurs, training and mentor programmes and access to trade associations and support agencies.

The opening of a permanent business mall may be up to two years away but discussions with investors, property developers and potential tenants are all under way.

BUSINESS EXPO

A three-day Business Expo will be held at the Auckland Showgrounds, from April 29 to May 1.

The expo, organised by Spring Group, will feature exhibitors catering for the needs of small and medium-sized business. It will cover the marketing, telecommunications, computers, finance, transport, office products, education, property, compliance and support sectors.

Tickets can be purchased at the Showgrounds' gate or, within the next few weeks, on the Business Expo website.