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4 key ways to improve your cash collection

Late payment can have a significant impact on your cashflow position.NZ small businesses wait, on average, 24.1 days to be paid after issuing an invoice, according to the most recent Xero Small Business Insights from June 2026. And the average late payment was 4.7 days beyond agreed terms. That’s nearly a whole working week without receiving the payment you’re due....

Featured Partner - NZPPA

Author: David Jenkins, NZPPA CEOA short guide for employers using an outsourced payroll providerOutsourcing payroll can give an employer access to specialist systems and processing support, but it does not transfer the employer's legal responsibilities. The employer must still make sure employees are paid correctly and that payroll information complies with current employment and tax law.A payroll provider can only process the information and instructions it receives. If the employer supplies an...

In the Community

There’s been plenty happening in our wider community lately, and we’ve been fortunate to get involved in a few different ways.From supporting the Cancer Society through Daffodil Day and keeping e-waste out of landfill, to welcoming Paralympian Danielle Aitchison into the office to share her inspiring story, it’s been a great reminder of the many ways we can contribute, connect and learn from those around us.Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to....

In the Office

There’s been plenty happening in and around the A4 office lately, with birthdays, big milestones, a new team member and a little Mid-Winter Christmas fun thrown into the mix!Here’s a look at what the team has been up to....

Payroll Update - September

After plenty of discussion, consultation and Parliamentary debate, the Employment Leave Bill has now become the Employment Leave Act 2026 and will come into force on 6 August 2028.The law has not changed yet!You must follow the current rules in the Holidays Act until the new law starts on 6 August 2028.So, what happens now?The next two years will be about getting ready for what is a significant change to the way leave is managed in New Zealand.Some of the key changes ahead include:Annual an...

Get to know Elaine

Elaine joined the Accounted4 team in August 2026. She brings more than ten years of experience in public practice accounting and completed her Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification in 2023.Originally from Zhejiang, China, Elaine moved to New Zealand many years ago and has proudly called Hamilton home ever since. During her first year here, she travelled extensively around New Zealand with her friends and quickly fell in love with the country's natural beauty....

Featured Client - EnviroConsult

For farmers and rural businesses, achieving good environmental outcomes while running a productive and profitable operation is increasingly part of doing business. But navigating changing requirements, identifying opportunities and actually getting projects completed can be complex and time-consuming.That’s where EnviroConsult comes in.Based in the Waikato, EnviroConsult provides practical environmental and sustainability advice and project support to farmers, growers and agribusinesses. The f...

6 Powerful Reasons To Watch Your Financial Reports

Making time to look over your financial reports each month is an important task for any business owner. If you are not taking time to do this, either because you’re too busy, or perhaps you don’t really understand what you’re looking at and it doesn’t make sense to you, then here are 6 reasons we recommend you should start to.But before we get our 6 reasons, let’s talk very quickly about which reports to look at. At a bare minimum, and depending on the complexity of your business, you ...

Xero Workshop - Get More Out of Xero

This face to face workshop is designed to help you utilise your Xero subscription to its full potential  The presentation will include:Dashboard Set UpJAX AI - how to use it Invoicing TipsBills & Batch PaymentsAccounted4 Presenters: Raya, Renee & SaraWhen: 5.30pm - 7pm, Thursday 24 September Where: Downstairs, Bridges Church, 28 Duke St, CambridgeCost: ComplimentaryAttendees are encouraged to bring their laptopsRegistrations are limited and es...

Amendments to charitable donation rules

In Budget 2026, the Government introduced new tax rules around donations for the charitable and not-for-profit sector. The aim was to ensure ‘the system remains fair, credible and trusted for charities and not-for-profits’.“These changes are about striking the right balance between simplification, fiscal sustainability and ensuring the system has integrity.”Revenue Minister, Simon Watts...

Understanding Financial Drivers & Business Performance - Workshop

Date: September 17, 2026Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Location: Onyx Function roomMany business owners work hard to grow revenue, but fewer have confidence in what their numbers are actually telling them.This practical workshop is designed to help SME owners, managers and emerging leaders better understand the financial drivers behind business performance and use that knowledge to make stronger operational and strategic decisions.Through practical examples, discussion and real-wor...

Provisional Tax due 28 August

The first instalment for Provisional tax is due August 28th.Provisional tax is a way to spread your income tax payments across the current year rather than paying a lump sum later.You must pay it if your residual income tax (RIT) from your previous tax return is more than $5,000. It usually applies to self-employed people, contractors, and rental property owners.If you have a standard 31 March balance date, you pay in three instalments:First instalment: 28 AugustSecond instalment: 15 JanuaryThir...

Xero Plan Price Increases

We would like to advise that Xero has announced price increases to all its plans, effective 1 October 2026.The revised subscription prices will be reflected in your Xero Fees Invoice issued on 25 November 2026 (due 20 December 2026). If you currently pay by Automatic Payment please review your invoice carefully and update your payment accordingly to avoid any underpayments. The below prices include GST and reflect the 20% discount we are able to pass on through...

Budgeting for success: the importance of good financial management

When you’re operating and managing a small business, you have a finite pot of cash to work with. Because of this, it’s incredibly important to manage your cash well and to have clear budgets and spending limits for every area of your business operations.Let’s take a look at why budgeting is such a vital part of your financial management, and what you can do to keep your company on budget and in a positive cashflow position. ...

6 ways to get paid quicker

Cashflow is incredibly important for businesses. More cash in the account means more capital to fund day-to-day expenses or buy new equipment. However, many small business owners report difficulties when it comes to the delay between issuing an invoice and actually getting paid....

What does a rise in the Official Cash Rate mean for your business?

On 8 July 2026, the Monetary Policy Committee agreed to increase the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 2.50% from the previous rate of 2.25%. This increase to the official Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) rate came in reaction to a global drop in oil prices.But what is the OCR? And how will a rise to a 2.50% rate affect your small business?The OCR is a key economic tool that’s used to influence the overall level of interest rates in the economy. The OCR sets the rate of interest...

How much should you pay yourself?

Being the boss means you get to make all the big decisions about your business – including how much to pay yourself in wages, salary or drawings.As the owner, you might need to underpay yourself in the early stages of building your business, so you can reinvest the profits. But your time is valuable – and you need enough money to pay the bills. So how can you find the right level of pay? It has to be enough to keep the mortgage paid, while also building a thriving business.If you’re trying...

Plain English guide to cashflow

Why is cashflow so central to good financial management? Here's our plain english guide....

How to push forward when business confidence is low

“Business confidence lifted 21 points in May, but at +10 it is still well down on levels prevailing before the Middle East conflict.”ANZ Business Outlook survey, May 2026The mid-2026 ANZ Business Outlook surveys show it’s been a volatile year for Kiwi enterprises. Following a sharp plunge in business confidence in March and April – mainly due to global trade disruptions – confidence has staged a modest recovery to +10 in May 2026.But with confidence still low, what can your NZ small bu...

Featured Client - Stihl Cambridge

For more than 20 years, Stihl Shop Cambridge has been helping locals keep their homes, farms, and businesses running with quality outdoor power equipment, expert advice, and reliable servicing.As a proudly locally owned and operated business, Stihl Shop Cambridge has grown alongside the Cambridge community. In 2007, Rod took over the business from his parents alongside business partner Grant Yearbury, continuing the family legacy while building on the strong reputation the business had already e...

Featured Partner - PaySauce

PaySauce makes it simple for small business owners to manage their payroll. Whether you're running a café, managing a job site, or have been in the milking shed since 5 am, the last thing you want to be doing at the end of the day is to chase timesheets and enter spreadsheets. And it doesn't have to be. PaySauce brings pay calculations, PAYE filing, KiwiSaver, and employee payments together in one place, so you can get on with running your business.As a small business owner, you’ve got enough...

Get to know Larissa

Larissa joined Accounted4 in 2020, moving to Cambridge when she started with the firm. She is now a Senior Accounting Manager, working alongside Geoff and Jamie.Having grown up on a dairy farm in Matamata, Larissa has a strong connection to the rural sector and a particular passion for agri accounting. She enjoys helping clients achieve their goals and building trusted relationships.Larissa moved into accounting after starting her career as a pharmacist and has never looked back. She enjoys the ...

A4 at the Building Business Capability Programme

Turning Numbers into Better Business DecisionsPresented by Accounted4Date: July 30, 2026Time: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM NZSTMany business owners work hard to grow revenue, but fewer have confidence in what their numbers are actually telling them. This practical workshop is designed to help SME owners, managers and emerging leaders better understand the financial drivers behind business performance and use that knowledge to make stronger operational and strategic decisions.Through p...

Supporting and Celebrating Cambridge this July

At Accounted4, we're proud to be part of a business community that is passionate, connected, and committed to making Cambridge an even better place to live and work. July has been filled with opportunities to celebrate local success, strengthen relationships, and support causes that make a real difference....

Team News - July

A big welcome back to Alex Lamont, our Client Services Manager, who has returned from parental leave – it’s so good to have her back with the team....