It’s easy to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour and become comfortable with your current business position. But don’t become too comfortable. Isn’t that why you got into business in the first place? To step away from that zone and challenge your way of thinking? Always be aware of and listen to …
Read more “Breaking free from idle mode – top tips for business growth”
As part of ITO Accounting’s sponsorship of the Haier Pulse for 2014, Glenn Campbell went along to their season opening breakfast at Ronald McDonald House. What an amazing facility it is for children with life threatening illnesses, and it was great to see the joy that the team bought to the kids. Some of the ITO Accounting …
Christmas is a time for celebration but when considering that festive spending don’t forget the potential tax costs – entertainment tax or FBT provisions may apply. We have highlighted the tax treatment of some typical forms of Christmas entertainment. Entertainment Tax or FBT? There are numerous exemptions from the entertainment tax rules but these are unlikely to apply …
The first few years in a new business can be the most delicate and you really don’t want any unwanted surprises when your initial tax bill arrives. There have been constant murmurs recently about what to do if you’re facing tax debt but what about some guidance as to how to avoid it altogether? It’s …
So you had an exciting moment when you received a letter advising you of your tax refund. A clatter of thoughts tumbled through your mind about how you might use the money. A fancy item for your wardrobe? A deposit on a holiday? A new electronic device? That little devil on your shoulder shook his …
The obvious times are when they’re looking at selling, if there’s a matrimonial split, when there’s a new shareholder coming into the business or they want to raise finance. The one that’s less obvious — but equally important — is when people talk about wealth management and planning. A company is usually one of the …
A good accountant can be the difference between success and failure for Kiwi businesses in tough times, a new study by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) shows. The institute analysed three years’ worth of data from business software provider MYOB’s regular survey of more than 1000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It …
Entrepreneurs keep a lot of the financial details of their business in their heads. Doing so has its advantages: No new software to learn, no danger of a system crash that loses all your data, and you can tweak your budget as often as you need without sitting down at a desk. But when you …
Improve your traffic! To make sales you need visitors. Is your website actively in the public domain? Using flyers, advertising, supporting an event or charity, giving out business cards, the use of smart packaging, referral sites, and business directories are some simple ways to put your brand and website address out there for potential customers …
Depth of knowledge provides stability in a business. If you don’t document internal processes, you run the risk of losing critical ‘tribal knowledge’ when an employee leaves. Quite simply, the knowledge will exit the building. It’s important that daily business isn’t disrupted or compromised when a team member is absent. Audit your knowledge assets. Work …
Ever wonder how well your website is really working for your business? Google Analytics can show you. It’s a free web analytics tool designed to integrate with your website and track usage. It shows how people find your site and navigate through it, to help you optimise your web presence. Designed for all skill levels, …
Multitasking. The great 2000s buzz-word. All women know the skill of talking on the phone whilst doing pretty much anything, and men perfected the art of listening to sport and reading the newspaper way back in 1926. It is a common misconception that multitasking is this art of doing more than one task …
Read more “The busy-person’s guide to effective multitasking in the office”
The more you update your site the better your ‘googlability’, as static sites get lost in search engines. So quite apart from the fact that no one likes a stale site, completing regular audits and updates improves how easily your customers can find you. Quick questions for a quick audit: Is your homepage fresh and …
Networking – the Way of the Future Running a small business these days is no mean feat. Far from it. In fact small business owners today need very diverse skills and considerable expertise – not to mention many more hours in a day – just to survive. It’s little wonder we keep seeing so …
When did you last compliment one of your team on the great job they are doing for your organisation? If you’re committed to investing in your team, positive acknowledgement will be part of your daily conversation with team members. For the majority of businesses, your most important asset is your human resources. Your business will …
Family businesses account for more than 75 percent of businesses in New Zealand yet for many, it’s not plain sailing. Unfortunately, family conflicts are common and often lie at the heart of the relatively high failure rate of small businesses. Many families think that because theirs is a family business they don’t need to have …
Are you the leader of an organisation? Maybe you have a small or a large team working with you. Have you ever stopped to think what it means to be a leader? As a leader you bring certain characteristics and strengths, but you also have responsibilities. Leadership in business is about building a vision …
Business is progressing steadily, your team is already working to capacity, you’ve made the decision – it’s time to employ a new person. Great, just don’t rush into it. You don’t need to employ the first person who applies, even if they have the skills you’re looking for. You need to make sure you …
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Risk and Reward Changes to both the Holidays Act and the Employment Relations Act will come into force on 1 April 2011. These changes are intended to reduce compliance costs, increase business confidence in recruiting new staff as well as speed up the resolution of workplace disputes. The main changes include: Employees will be able …
