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Promote Creativity and Innovation Within Your Business

Whether you're planning a new product, a new business venture or simply brainstorming, here are some tips to help boost creativity and innovation within your business: 1. Don't assume the current way is the right way. Challenge long standing processes that are currently used within your business and promote evolution of new systems and ideas for your business. Be as innovative as you like. 2. Ask the questions - what are you doing and why? Don't stray from your original mission unless it's ...

The R Words: Relationships, Rapport, Retention.

There is a saying that the best customers are the ones you already have. So once you've schmoozed and wooed someone into your client base, how do you go about keeping their business? Establishing trust and maintaining rapport in your business will be critical to building strong client relationships. When you're getting to know your clients, it's important to identify common ground. The easiest way to start doing this is by listening. Learn about people by asking questions and from here you'll ...

Making The Most Of Your Business Mentor

If you're a business owner, chances are you've considered seeking out a business mentor. Some business owners swear by the help and encouragement they've received by doing so. But what do you need to look for and how do you guarantee you're getting the best advice? Shop around. Can any of your peers recommend someone who comes with a reputable track record? Ask at your local chamber of commerce or business hub. It may be that business mentors are provided free of charge to ne...

Learning The Art Of Referral Business

Much like cold calling, asking for referrals can seem daunting. However unlike cold calling, referral business usually comes off the back of having done a good job for someone, so you're already on the front foot. The first step is asking for the referral. Before that you need the confidence to ask and, of course, to know how to ask for it and who to ask. Your best customers are your current ones. Assess your client database. Have you had a recent success with a client? Most people...

Who are you going to call?

How often are you able to really work on your business, as opposed to working in it? Day to day demands can swamp the bigger picture. It can help put it all in perspective to call on a specialist so you can focus your energies on taking that next step up. There are many advisory services out there. It can be confusing to try and sort through all the marketing to make sure you connect with someone who can really help. For instance, what's the difference between a business mentor and a business...

Turn on the Charm

It is one thing to have good leadership skills, but charisma is something else. To be compelling enough to inspire employees and those around you requires awareness and skill. There are small but meaningful steps you can take. By doing so, you are likely to improve the attitude of your employees and those you come in contact with and, most importantly, yourself. Be aware of any chip on your shoulder. No one likes attitude. Perhaps you don't feel you've got a bad attitude to begin with but be aw...

Receptionist Marie to retire

After joining the firm in 2005, Receptionist Marie Buchanan is retiring. Marie will be greatly missed here at Accounted4. She hopes to travel to Scotland to meet her husbands family in the near future, spend more time with her grandchildren and continue playing bowls. Marie wanted to make a special note of thanks to all the clients whom she has met over the past eleven years. Marie's last day is Thursday 31 March....

Featured Client

Keyte Automotive was established in 2001 by Matt and Sonya Keyte. They service all makes and models, as well as being a Mitsubishi Parts and Service Dealer. The team of highly trained technicians are all Authorised Warrant of Fitness Inspectors and have a wealth of more than 130 years collective experience. Their workshop is well-equipped with specialist tools and equipment and conveniently located at 104 Queen St, Cambridge, handy to town where clients can shop or work while Keytes take care ...

Featured Partner

Situated in the heart of Cambridge, Kaz Graphic Dezign has created great design solutions since 2002, including business branding: logos, brochures, newsletters, pull-up banners, signage (building and vehicles) and websites – so it's a one-stop business for all your design requirements. With three innovative and creative designers – Karen, Kylie and Penny – the business has grown through the passion of helping other businesses succeed by transforming their ideas into creative designs tha...

In the Community

We recently had a Networking over Coffee event at our office as part of our involvement with the Chamber of Commerce. We decided to do something a little different this year. After all, it's not just about the numbers! We held a mini expo which highlighted everything that encompasses Accounted4 and what we can offer our clients! This involved stands run by team members on topics such as; Xero, Banklink, Business start ups, payroll, our client service plans, team culture and many more. It wa...

For your Diary

31 March 2016 2015 tax return due to be filed for those with extension of time 7 April 2016 Terminal tax 7 May 2016 3rd instalment of 2015 Provisional Tax (March balance date) •GST for March 2016 Easter Office Hours - Heads Up Our office will close at 5pm on Thursday 25th March and reopen 8.30am on Wednesday 30th March. We will also be closed on Monday 25th April for Anzac Day. ...

Accounts team Update

As usual, when the end of the financial year is approaching it's a good idea to make sure everything's in good order. Take a look at: How much stock you are carrying at the end of the year. Dispose of any obsolete lines or write the stock down to its net realisable value Planned dividend payments and the company's imputation credit account balance. We will be reviewing these in March. Be aware that some DWT may be payable in April for this! Debtors: If you have taken reasonable steps to...

Online with the IRD

IRD has begun to make their statements and notices available electronically on your my IR account. You will notice these letters come through as e-documents. Your accountant will still receive a paper copy of this information....

Shorts for Hospice Day

Friday 4th March was the Waikato Hospice wear shorts to work day. There were a few of us who were brave enough and wore our shorts to work for the day. We raised $91 which will be donated to the Waikato Hospice....

In the Office

Congratulations – Jamie Fisher Jamie has recently been admitted to CAANZ as a fully Chartered Accountant. We now have 11 Chartered Accountants in our team. New Team Member - Paula Kilgour We are pleased to announce a new member to our team; Paula Kilgour. Paula started on 16th March as our Receptionist and Marketing Assistant . She will work closely with Marie until 1 April when she takes over the reins at the front desk. Belinda Kremesec moving on ...

For your Office

Minimum Wage Increase On the 1st April 2016 the minimum wage will increase by 50c to $15.25 per hour. This rate applies to all employees 18 years and over. The starting-out and training hourly minimum wage rates will increase to $12.20 per hour, remaining at 80% of the adult minimum wage. PAYE decrease due to ACC Earner Levy reduction The ACC Earner Premium reduces from 1.45% to 1.39% per $100 liable earnings on 1st April 2016. This results in a small tax reduction for all employees. If your e...

In the Industry

Inland Revenue's crackdown on 'cashies' continues with their focus on undeclared cash in the construction and hospitality sectors. Last year the Auckland region saw the most activity. Inland Revenue are now widening their reach. They've been trying to change attitudes among tradies and subcontracting businesses and their efforts seem to be getting results. Inland Revenue acknowledges people trying to cheat on tax are in the minority but stress that they're a very expensive minority. The so-cal...

Business Advisory Update

Most people are familiar with the concept of breaking even. Your breakeven point tells you how many units you need to sell or what dollar value in sales you need to achieve just to cover your costs. Once you know that, you know the point you need to pass to turn a profit. Pretty Easy right? But a breakeven point isn't set in stone. It will shift as your business grows, costs fluctuate and as you continue to surf a constantly changing business environment. Monitoring Breakeven A breakeven point ...

Terms of Engagement Renewal

A requirement that falls under the banner of being a registered Chartered Accountancy Practice is to have an up-to-date terms of engagement with our clients. With this in mind, this year we will be sending all of our clients a new terms of engagement letter (either electronically or via the post). It is very important that you read it, sign the last page and return the signed page to us prior to the start of your financial statements. ...

New Annual Questionnaire Process

Sustainability and Efficiency are both very important to us at Accounted4 and we strive to keep changing for the better. Consequently, for the 2016 financial year (for the majority of our clients) we are trialling a new process of receiving the information that we require from you electronically rather than posting you out a paper questionnaire. In March we will be sending out a more detailed letter to clients affected by the change explaining the new process and what to expect. If you h...

Urgent Review of Holidays Act Required

BusinessNZ and the NZ Payroll Practitioners' Association (NZPPA) are calling for an urgent review of the Holidays Act after a release in the media this week stated that 'when an employee takes annual leave, you should pay them the … average of the last four weeks, or the last year'. The Accounted4 Payroll team would like to make it clear that this statement is INCORRECT. The Holidays Act 2003 clearly states that an employee should be paid the HIGHER of their 'ANNUAL AVERAGE' or their 'ORD...

Health & Safety - it's time

When it comes to how employers are reacting to the upcoming changes in the health and safety legislation, I've found there are three types of employers. The first is the employer who just sees it as part of business, and will get on with it. Then there's the employer who is a bit apprehensive and needs a helping hand, but quite willing to do it. And the third type is the employer who thinks it's just more red tape and interference, and who is unconvinced it will affect them. The ethos of our h...

Risk and Reward - Targeting the Cash Economy

Inland Revenue's crackdown on 'cashies' continues with their focus on undeclared cash in the construction and hospitality sectors. Last year, the Auckland region saw the most activity. Inland Revenue are now widening their reach. They've been trying to change attitudes among tradies and subcontracting businesses and their efforts seem to be getting results. Inland Revenue acknowledge people trying to cheat on tax are in the minority but stress that they're a very expensive minority. The so-cal...

Better Administration of PAYE - Submission to IRD

At Accounted4 we provide a payroll service for clients using various payroll providers that best fit our client's individual needs. I am all for reducing compliance costs for businesses but I think the Government needs to look at the complicated payroll legislation that we have in NZ first. We have so many different types of pay calculations for annual leave, sick leave, bereavement leave, public holidays with ordinary daily pay, 52 week average, annual average and 4 weekly average under the...

2016....Eyes Front, No Rear Vision

Recently at Accounted4 we reached six decades of business success and it was certainly great to celebrate this fantastic milestone with the team and their families. That's all well and good but, the question now looking forward is, how do we continue on the journey? How do we continue to remain relevant, competitive and successful not only in 2016 but for the next decade? Here's a few of my thoughts… I recently heard the saying "Culture eats Strategy for Lunch" and I have to agree with ...