DEPUTY Premier and minister for the North Coast Andrew Stoner visited Tweed Heads yesterday with a handful of ministers to mark the start of his North Coast tour.

Mr Stoner, who lived in the area for about 20 years, seemed comfortable to be on familiar turf.

He said during the late 70s and early 80s, he frequented the iconic Kirra surf break.

Yesterday, he donned another of his many hats - that of the minister for small business.

Mr Stoner enthusiastically showed off the Small Biz Bus, an initiative run by the NSW Small Business Commissioner's office.

He said the bus had visited the Northern Rivers 17 times since 2011.

"This is about supporting the sector of our economy that actually employs the most people and that is our small to medium enterprises," Mr Stoner said.

"Here in the Tweed alone, there are nearly 7000 small businesses and when you're talking regional areas like the North Coast, they're incredibly important to the regional economy - but you have to take the services to the people, and that's what the small business bus is all about."

Steven Armytage of Uki's Gymea Eco Retreat and Spa said the Small Biz Bus had helped his business to grow.

"We've been running for three years but we don't have a high level of business maturity," Mr Armytage said.

"What (our consultant) has been able to do is help us with that process."

Casuarina resident Rosemary Logan is an independent consultant for Thermomix.

"I'm very concerned about the obesity levels and the problems we've got in this beautiful country which we shouldn't have," she said.

"The biggest thing I've had from the Small Biz Bus is encouragement.

"When you're on your own, you often need that."

The Small Biz Bus has made 300 visits across NSW in the last year.

Mr Stoner said in the last financial year, small businesses in NSW received more than 40,000 hours of face-to-face support and advice from the bus.