Business Advisor (who’s actually run businesses)

 I didn’t start out as a business advisor. I’ve spent most of my career inside businesses, running them, growing them, fixing them, and occasionally wondering how things got so messy in the first place. That matters, because when we talk, I’m not working off theory. I’ve seen it play out in real life. 

Over the last 40+ years, I’ve worked as a banker, business owner, and in senior management roles across a wide range of industries. 
From small teams to businesses turning over up to $40 million, the challenges are usually the same. Too much going on, not enough clarity, and decisions being made on the fly.  

I don’t walk in with a magic fix and if that’s what you’re expecting I’m probably not your guy. 
What I do is sit beside you and help you make sense of what’s happening in your business once you cut through the noise. 

In fact in my experience most problems are not complicated, they’re just buried.  

You’ll recognise some of these symptoms yourself: the cash flow that doesn’t quite stack up, teams pulling in different directions, sales that feel harder than they should and good people making decisions without the full picture.  

This is normal stuff, just left unaddressed for too long and my role is to bring some structure to it. A clear strategy with straight answers and a focus on what genuinely improves performance. 

The results I aim for are simple – business owners who feel like they’re back in control again, with businesses the lifestyle they truly want. 



Darren Harpur - Waikato

+64 21 408 828

What Darren's Clients Say

  • Having been in business for several years, I reached a point where I needed to start thinking seriously about succession and what the future of the business could look like. Working with Darren at Prime Strategies has been a valuable part of that process. 

    Darren helped me step back and gain clarity around the bigger picture — what I wanted personally, and how the business needed to evolve to support that. From there, we worked through strengthening governance, improving financial visibility, and identifying areas of risk, all in a way that didn’t disrupt the day-to-day running of the business. 

    What I’ve appreciated most is Darren’s practical approach, it’s not just theory, it’s about making real improvements that stick. The business is now in a much stronger, more transparent position, and I feel far more confident that when the time comes, we’ll be well prepared for a successful transition. 

    Graeme Hurren
    Director
    Tait Controls 2011 Ltd

  • As a first‑time business owner, I had strong technical skills but limited experience running and scaling a business. When market conditions softened and turnover dropped, I engaged Darren to help me step back, get clarity, and put structure around the business. The work was practical and focused. We improved financial visibility, tightened pricing and cost control, and put systems in place that allowed me to spend more time on higher‑value activity rather than firefighting. 

    Today the business is stable, growing again, and we are adding staff. I now have confidence in the way the business is run and a clear plan for the future. The support wasn’t about fixing problems, it was about building a stronger, more resilient business. 

    Ben
    Director
    Livestock Feed Services

  • Raewyn and Darren have been working with us across all areas of the business as we prepare for the next stage of growth and expansion. We meet each week and so far have covered financial planning, operational structure, governance, and leadership development. The advice is commercial and grounded in how businesses actually operate, not theory. As a result, we now have a clearer growth strategy, stronger internal systems, and confidence that the business can scale in a controlled and sustainable way. 

    Michael Mead
    Director
    Prestige Group

  • We engaged Darren during a period of significant economic uncertainty to help us navigate changing market conditions and protect the long‑term health of the business. The support was steady and pragmatic. Rather than alarmist responses, we focused realistic and pragmatic solutions, cashflow visibility, risk management, and making informed decisions as conditions evolved. Having experienced external support allowed us to act with confidence, avoid reactive decisions, and position the business to take advantage of opportunities as the cycle turns. 

    James Lux
    Director
    Splice Construction