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Managing debtors and cashflow

You analyse your numbers month by month. Your overheads are reasonable and there’s no wastage. But what about your debtors? Good debtor management can make a real difference to cashflow in your business while poor debtor management can be a major roadblock. 'Remember that credit is money' Benjamin FranklinIf your business isn’t strictly ‘cash over the counter’ you probably already understand how much work it takes (and how frustrating it is) to chase money from late payers. You can hav...

Rocketspark Case Study - Accounted4 Website Design

Our Business Manager, Chris Stevenson, was recently interviewed by Hayden at Rocketspark for their latest case study."It’s just so important to have a good website. It’s the first place you go to find out about someone,"Read on for the full blog, courtesy of our friends at Rocketspark. ...

The value of cashflow forecasting for your business

Projecting your cashflow pipeline forwards is vital. To be able to navigate the future path of your cashflow, you need to start forecasting – so you can map out your financial position over the coming months and can take the appropriate action to safeguard your cash position. Plus, when you have access to detailed forecasts you can scenario-plan, search for cost-savings and look for strategies that will preserve your cashflow position.Forecasting your future cash pipelineRemaining in control o...

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 ...

In the Community

At Accounted4, we believe in giving back to our community, we’re excited to share how our Social Club is making a difference. Recently, we made donations of $200 each to five incredible charities that are close to our hearts. Gumboot Friday, St John Ambulance, Cambridge Riding for the Disabled, Waikato Rescue Helicopter, and Kids in Need.Gumboot FridayGumboot Friday is an initiative that provides free counseling for young people in need. Mental health is a critical issue, especially for our yo...

In the Office

We’re super excited to welcome Lydia to the Accounted4 team! Originally from Auckland, Lydia graduated with a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Accounting, back in 2018. She made the move to Waikato in 2021 and joined us in June 2024. We’re so glad she’s here!When she’s not at work, Lydia is all about spending time with her two dogs, getting her hands dirty in the garden, or diving into a good book.Lydia has already made a fantastic impact on our team. We’re excited to see all the grea...

Featured Partner - NZDDS

Our ServicesWhen you need to dispose of paper based information like documents, files and records containing sensitive or confidential information, New Zealand Document Destruction Services can help. NZDDS has been in business since 1999, providing 100% safe and secure shredding throughout the Bay of Plenty and Waikato areas.NZDDS provides peace of mind at all levels of documentation handling and disposal. Our friendly, licensed staff offer you a service you can trust. Choose from a range of doc...

Featured Client - Inspirit Studio & Gallery

It started with a dream and vision to create a destination art gallery and sculpture garden showcasing the best of Aotearoa Art and Design in our stunning rural location in Tamahere.Seventeen years later Inspirit Studio & Gallery is now listed on Trip Advisor as one of the best art galleries to visit in the Waikato Region and often pops up on the top of the google search lists for must see galleries in Cambridge and Hamilton. This brings a wide variety of visitors from all over the country t...

What’s News in the World of Payroll?

Progress for Fixing the Holidays Act 2003A draft bill targeted to be released for consultation September 2024The lack of clarity and certainty provided by the Holidays Act 2003 has been a longstanding issue, and non-compliance has resulted in employees not receiving their entitlements, and high remediation costs to employers. Focus Points:a proposed approach to pro-rating sick leave so that there is some proportionality to how an employee worksmoving from a weeks-based entitlement system to...

Get to Know Steffi

I’m originally from India and was raised in Dubai. After completing my B.Com and ACCA in 2019, I began my career in audit and later moved to Australia to pursue a Master’s in Accounting at QUT, Brisbane, which I completed in 2021 and worked in accounting and taxation. In 2023, I proudly became a fully qualified ACCA member. I also do internal audit for Sacred Heart Syro Malabar Catholic Church in Hamilton.Outside of work, I stay active by going to the gym and enjoying walks with my husband, ...

Xero Roadshow Hamilton

A team of 6 from the office recently attended the Xero Roadshow in Hamilton. The place was packed with accountants, bookkeepers, and small business owners, all ready to soak up some knowledge and connect with like-minded people. There was lots of learning and even a few surprises thrown into the mix.So, what did we learn? First off, Xero is doubling down on automation. They’re rolling out some seriously cool tools to make your life easier, think streamlined data entry and more accurate financi...

Keeping your tax and expenses in check when you are self-employed

Contracting or freelancing requires you to wear a lot of hats. Relationship-building, keeping track of your time, marketing your skills and actually doing the work. But one of your priorities should also be establishing how you handle your money and setting the groundwork for good habits.Understand your deductionsBefore you start, it’s essential to understand what expenses you can and can’t claim. This means you’ll keep the right receipts and track the right expenses. Figuring out what’s...

Another Successful Xero Training Workshop

On the evening of Wednesday 14 August we held a very successful and popular Xero Training Workshop covering Invoicing and Accounts Receivable. We hosted this workshop in association with the Cambridge Business Chamber as part of their Annual Digital Business Series. Our presenters, Alex Lamont, Samara McKenzie and Katie Jones (left to right) did an outstanding job and we are very proud of them. They are currently planning a recording of their presentation to share with any of our A4 cl...

Livestock special alert 2024: herd values

Inland Revenue determines each year’s herd scheme values (National Average Market Values or NAMV) by reviewing the livestock market.The herd values for dairy this year have seen a very small fall in values on average across all female classes, but a small increase in values on average across all male classes.The outlook for the farm gate milk price at the beginning of last season looked bleak but has improved through the course of the season. On-farm inflation remains high. The availability of...

Why Productivity Matters and what you can do about it.

Productivity is a term associated with strong economies, robust businesses and the efficiency gains of clever staff. If only businesses were efficient, then we would have fewer of them failing, more employment and better incomes for owners and workers alike. In New Zealand, according to The Xero Small Business Insights Special Report, Small Business Productivity: Industry and Regional Trends 2023, Kiwi business productivity fell by 6.1% in 2023.Unfortunately, not all businesses get to the heady ...

Upcoming income tax threshold changes, what you need to know for Payroll!

The Personal Income Tax thresholds will change on 31 July 2024.  All payroll payments paid on or after 31 July 2024 should be taxed using the new income tax rates.TOP TIP – If you pay your employees by a pre-loaded automatic payment, remember to update these!The threshold changes will have different effects on your payroll If you use payroll software and they make the updates by 31 July, then you shouldn’t have to do a thing. Your software provider will let you know if you doIf...

DIY accounting vs hiring an accountant: make the right choice for your business

When you’re starting out as a small business owner, the temptation is to go DIY with your accounting. Hiring a professional accountant or tax adviser costs money and that’s an overhead that you can remove by doing all the financial management yourself, right?But is DIY accounting the most sensible option for your business? And why might partnering with an experienced accountant be a valuable investment in your future?The 5 big challenges of managing your own accountsAt the initial stages of ...

Farming of the future

Digitisation is transforming how farms and orchards operate, leading to more innovation, efficiency, and productivity across New Zealand.In this edition’s Digital Snapshot, we’ll look at the Internet of Things (IoT), what it means, and how it can help farmers and growers.What is IoT?IoT refers to local networks of internet-connected devices and appliances that share useful information and data.The face of farming is set to change as IoT devices make life more efficient, safer, and productive...

New Childcare Credit

New Childcare Credit to Ease the Burden for Hardworking FamiliesGreat news for hardworking families! Starting July 1st, a new credit aimed at easing the cost of early childcare education (ECE) is here, thanks to Finance Minister Nicola Willis. This initiative is designed to help parents and caregivers manage the rising costs of living, especially when it comes to childcare expenses.What’s the Deal?Parents and caregivers can now receive a partial reimbursement for their ECE fees. You can get ba...

Farming Employers Update

As we move to the start of a new season, it is timely to review that your payroll documents and processes are current and correct.Please take a few minutes to cast your eyes over the check points below. To make it easy for you, we’ve made a short-list of some things to consider, including links to the latest IRD forms & some industry articles. Reminder – of the upcoming Public Holidays·         Kings Birthday Monday 3rd June·  ...

Featured Partner - Rocketspark

Rocketspark’s journey began in 2009 when brothers Jeremy and Grant Johnson, and their mates Richard King and Lee Reichardt, identified the need for a user-friendly website building platform that small businesses could use to establish their digital presence. ...

Featured Client - Jamie Wright Photography

Meet Jamie Wright, your go-to Photographer and Videographer based in Cambridge. From snapping shots for big names like NZ Police and Rebel Sport to weaving visual magic for Canterbury Clothing and Bremworth, Jamie's lens has seen it all. But don't let the big gigs fool you - Jamie's just as stoked about capturing the magic of local weddings and bringing small businesses' stories to life. With Jamie, it's not just about the big shots - it's about finding beauty in every frame, no matter the size ...

In the Community

In April, Accounted4 had the pleasure of hosting a highly successful "Intro to Xero" workshop for our valued clients.The workshop covered critical aspects of Xero, including coding bank transactions and preparing GST returns. Four of our knowledgeable team members guided participants through the basics, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their prior experience with Xero, could follow along and gain valuable insights.We look forward to hosting more workshops in the future and continuing to sup...

In the Office

In April, we said farewell to Ruby, who has been a cherished member of our admin team at Accounted4 for the past five years.We will miss Ruby's cheerful, warm & caring nature around the office but are very excited for her as she embarks on a new journey with her family, across the ditch in Australia.We look forward to hearing about Ruby's new adventures and know she won't be a stranger....

Get to know Samara

Samara has spent most of her life moving around New Zealand from Whitianga to Auckland with a few places in between, to now settling in Cambridge. Samara graduated from Cambridge High School in 2019 and is currently in her last semester at university before starting on her Chartered Accountancy journey. Samara has been part of the A4 team for 2 years now as she joined just after the Easter break in 2022. Samara and her partner Tait live in town with their pup Oakley. Outside of work Samara ...