Blog
27 Social Media Tools Retailers Can Use to Boost Influence and Sales
Social media isn’t just about viral videos or selfies. For consumers, sites and apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are playing an increasingly large role in their path to purchase.
This is why it’s so important for retailers to invest in social media marketing. Having a strong presence in relevant social networks not only gives you an avenue to communicate with your audience, it also allows you to stay in the radars of your customers. This in turn, increases the likelihood of a shopper choosing your brand when they’re ready to buy.
Government hours over Christmas and New Year
Most government agencies close down over Christmas and in early January. Here’s a list of who will be open and who shuts down for holidays.
Sunrise Walk for Hospice
Gather friends, family and your work colleagues and enjoy a five km walk or fun run around the Auckland Botanic Gardens.
Sunrise Walk is all about celebrating life and remembering those we love, while raising funds for Totara Hospice South Auckland.
Special tax codes and deduction rates: What to do
Sometimes an employee will ask you to make tax or student loan deductions from salary or wages that are not at the standard rate.
Keys to managing debtors
Good debtor management can make a real difference to cash flow in your business.
Poor debtor management can be a major roadblock.
What is your back up plan?
Everyone is completing vital end-of-year work while squeezing in social events to prove you're not a complete workaholic but businesses must consider IT plans for the holiday season.
What would you do if the unexpected happens while you’re on the beach giving it some Christmas cheer?
Do the same and expect less
Viv Brownrigg tells it like it is and at the latest Business Buddy seminar she cut to the chase.
If businesses keep doing the same as they’ve always done, they can expect less in a rapidly changing market.
Fraud Awareness Week – 15 to 21 November
Almost everyone must have clicked on something or shared something that arrives in the inbox or pops up on the screen when using the Internet and then regretted a moment of naivety.
Health and Safety 2015
The new health and safety legislation has passed and we all need to start planning.
Your business needs to be compliant by 4 April 2016, when the new Health and Safety at Work Act takes effect, replacing the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
Put down that app
After a long winter Labour Day is often the first break from the daily toil for many business owners and their team but how many entrepreneurs will completely switch off?
Pricing plan changes for New Zealand
Xero recently announced they would increase their pricing as of December 1, 2015.
Property tax changes for trusts
Does your trust have an IRD number?
From October 1, 2015 trusts will need an IRD number if buying, selling or transferring a property, whether it is a residential or commercial property
Upcoming Event - 7 ways to grow your business- seminar
At Business Buddy Chartered Accountants, we are committed to supporting local businesses achieve growth. This month we are holding a seminar to help you understand the most important things you can influence to achieve growth in your business.
Driving your home-based business like a V8 supercar
Building an empire from a home office can be as exhilarating as Bathurst – one minute you’re in front and the next you wonder how you smashed into the barrier.
Feedback sought on proposed GST rule fixes
On 17 September 2015, the Revenue Minister, the Hon Todd McClay released an issues paper, GST – Current issues, that provides options to improve the way certain GST-related rules operate in practice.
Marketing Opportunities are everywhere...
Great opportunities to grow your business are actually all around you.
Take payments with a smartphone
Technology marches on and now your smartphone or tablet can easily receive payments from customers – before you have climbed back into your ute.
New information for Companies Office annual returns
Don’t panic if you have been asked to provide extra information about company directors – a new requirement of the Companies Office from July 1, 2015.
Business Perspective
Starting a business doesn’t need to be the next great new idea. New businesses are doing well, simply by sticking to proven products and services.
Changed your bank account?
If you have changed your bank account, please let us know before we undertake your tax return, otherwise you might miss out on your tax refund.
Vehicles – buy or lease?
VEHICLE sales are heading towards record highs in New Zealand and commercial vehicle sales are leading the way.
ACC CoverPlus Extra – are your levies overdue?
This year ACC has cancelled unpaid CoverPlus Extra policies that were overdue. In July they had cancelled about 2,600 policies and expected to cancel the remaining 1,600 policies with unpaid CoverPlus Extra invoices in August.
Employment standards
The Employment Standards Legislation Bill has been introduced to parliament, proposing changes to strengthen enforcement of employment standards. This will introduce tougher sanctions for breaches and greater accountability for people and entities associated with the employer — such as directors, senior managers, legal advisors — if they are knowingly involved when an employer breaks the law.
Risk and Reward
The Health and Safety Reform Bill, which started its slow progress last year, took another step forward in late July with its second reading in Parliament.
Surfing economic waves
SHAREMARKETS boom and bust, Auckland property prices are like a runaway train and the price of milk is more variable than the weather – but what impact will this have on small to medium businesses?
Reducing the burden of provisional tax
Here at Astill Hawke we work hard with you to try to plan your tax payments and minimise the compliance costs associated with the provisional tax system.
The new look Xero Android app
We’re pleased to announce the biggest release since the native version of our Xero Android app. Every pixel of the dated Android 4.x ‘Holo’ look is gone! Xero now follows Google’s ‘Material’ design guidelines. We’ve revisited every single screen with an eye on consistency and #beautiful design. We think you’ll find it a vast improvement.
IRD’s mileage rate decreases
The Commissioner has announced the result of the review for the 2015 income year for persons whose business travel is 5,000 or less in an income year.
Aging workforce opportunity in construction
AS the number of older workers in New Zealand grows the time has come for the construction industry to look at how to incorporate mature workers into the workforce.
Rupinder Kaur becomes a Business Buddy
DETERMINATION and dedication are paying off for the newest Business Buddy, Rupinder Kaur.
4 Tips for Training Your Staff on How to Use New Technology
Whether in a large corporation or a small retail store, implementing a new piece of software can be a daunting task. One of the largest mistakes an organization can make is overlooking the training investment required with new software.SoftwareInsider recently conducted a survey of potential software buyers and asked what the most important buying factor was when choosing a product. Here were the results:
Corporate Portal scam rips off small businesses
MOST email scams seem so obvious but every now and then we can all get caught out – especially with a new one that uses good old snail mail.
Why numbers count
WHEN a Business Buddy is immersed in numbers they can be taken aback when they learn that not everyone in business is quite so enthusiastic about the ups and downs of numeric tales.
It may be hard to see an epic adventure emerging from a page of numbers but ask any accountant and they will tell you how digits can dish up the dirt or divulge exceptional deeds.
Due dates in August 2015
Business Buddy is sending a friendly reminder to you about what is due when in August.
Exit: stage right
We read a lot about the ageing population and its potential impact on the economy but what does it mean for small business?
Closing the sale
You've put in all the hard work. You’ve marketed the product or service, established a relationship with your client and you've worked through the early negotiations.
Now, you have to seal the deal. Aside from the initial contact, this can often be the hardest step to take. It's about asking the big question and not being afraid to follow through.
Whether you’re negotiating a large deal or something on a smaller scale, here are some pointers to help you see your client over the line.
Tips and tricks to shake it off
Practise these simple tricks, if you catch yourself in a negative mind set:
Don’t bring me down
We all have an Achilles heel. Sadly, negativity can take us unawares. Negativity is productivity cancer. Heavy words but, in truth, it can hugely hinder success. It saps your energy and the team’s. It’s deadweight in all your dealings with customers. And if you never want to have a great idea again, negativity’s the way to do it. But by being mindful of negative thoughts, we can change our thinking and prevent the effect it has on how we operate.
Here are some of the biggest hindrances to our thought patterns.
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.
Workers dropping like flies
Here are some top tips to keep your team happy when coughs, colds and a siege of bugs seem to be taking out staff faster than a Business Buddy can calculate your GST with Xero.
It’s all happening with Business Buddy’s app
Earlier this year Victoria Crone from Xero threw out the challenge to businesses to get up to speed by developing an app and Business Buddy has nailed it.
That’s right – you can download the Business Buddy NZ app from App Store or Google Play and have a tinker with the nifty functions.
IRD reminders July, 2015
A friendly Business Buddy reminder about what is due when with the IRD throughout July.
Put reminders in your smart device to keep everyone happy.
5 Questions Every Retailer Should Ask When Opening Additional Locations
Opening additional retail stores is always an exciting endeavor. When implemented correctly, expanding to new locations enables you to tap into new communities, create more jobs, increase revenues, and more.
In other words, opening additional stores can catapult your business to higher levels of retail success. But in order to achieve that success, you need to plan your expansion thoroughly. Rapidly sprouting up new stores can do more harm than good if you don’t think things through.
Provisional Tax Payments
The next 2016 provisional tax payment for most tax payers are due on 28th August 2015.
Building better Business Buddies by giving
Sometimes work must not be all about work.
In the middle of winter, when everyone seems to leave home in the dark and come home in the dark it’s up to the boss to keep the Business Buddies feeling chipper.
How to understand your customers
In more than 20 years of writing for and about a wide variety of companies, I’ve noticed something important. The businesses that flourish are the ones that truly understand their customers – who they are and what they want.
Move from Excel to accounting software
Small businesses often start out using Excel – but that’s only doable up until a point. Like every teenager eventually becomes an adult, your business needs to evolve and grow. Find out why the smartest organisations are using online accounting software instead.
Call before you click
If you have a company, we’ll let you into a secret. We know, each year when we speak with you about what you want to do about dividends, that the minute we start to talk about imputation credits and the imputation credit account, we watch your eyes glaze over and we know the ‘la la la la la la’ soundtrack is playing in your head. It’s okay. Almost everyone finds them hard to understand. And really, that’s okay with us because… that’s what we’re here for, right?
What does the NZ Budget Mean for Small Business?
The Government this month handed down the 2015 NZ Budget with a few surprises in store. This Budget continues to deliver on National Government’s pattern of fiscal responsibility. This is a positive thing for New Zealand business as it creates an environment of certainty and stability for businesses to invest.
How to Have a Paperless Office
Busy offices can generate a lot of paperwork. But too much paper can reduce the efficiency of your business – and cost you money. So what steps can you take to cut the amount of paper your business uses?
Companies and Partnerships
New Companies Office Requirements
Dialling for a dollar - Perfecting your cold call
Most of us loathe the sound of those two words, ‘cold calling’. It can be labour intensive and takes a fair amount of courage. We worry that it can often be seen as annoying to the receiver, putting us at a disadvantage from the beginning. However, if you’re willing to put in some effort, there are some top tips to help you to make cold calls effectively.
How do you know what to insure?
It’s a bit of a Murphy’s Law principle that businesses often don’t really come to grips with their risk management plan (or the lack of one) till some random accident takes out a key manager or lead hand and it hits everyone what it will mean for the business.
Just Breathe - how to cope when the heat’s on
We’ve all heard the saying, ‘the customer is always right.’ Behind closed doors, this may not always be the case but as a business owner, manager or customer services representative, it’s the number one rule you need to follow. By doing so, you can try to defuse a potentially tricky situation and, if you don’t succeed, you can at least walk away with your head held high and your dignity intact.
What’s with the Fitbit fad?
What possesses someone to wear a device that tells them how many steps they’ve knocked off and how many calories they’ve burned in a day seems beyond many people.
However, the producers of Fitbit are onto a winning formula because the nifty gadget is being adorned by those who get a buzz out of seamless technology that boosts motivation.
Upskilling and schmoozing at Xerocon
The Business Buddy team loves to soar with the eagles and the annual Xerocon gig in Auckland is definitely where the highest fliers are winging their way to success.
Almost all of the Business Buddy team attended Xero’s annual conference at the Viaduct Events Centre and immersed themselves in two days of add-ons, updates and awesome speakers.
Business Buddy Client Showcase
We love sharing our stories via our blog and we are finding our clients are doing the same, so we thought it would be great to showcase some of our clients stories here. If you are a client, and would like to showcase your story via your blog, please let us know. This week we would like to share a blog from Claire at Bliss Revolution.
Upcoming Event - Start up business successfully - Free Seminar
Being your own boss is exciting, challenging and sometimes, frustrating.
Learn from successful local businesses how to give your own enterprise a great start.
Updated UOMI rates
Use of money interest rates on underpaid and overpaid tax will change on 8 May 2015
Chaser works for Business Buddy
Money, money, money – it is one factor that can make or break a business, especially when it ceases to be available.
The Business Buddy team spent many hours investigating systems that bring in the money owed to businesses with minimal fuss.
It can be awkward picking up the phone to get payment from a good client who may have overlooked paying your invoice but Chaser is a whizz at speeding up the process and is never embarrassed.
Receipt Bank rocks for Business Buddy
Every manager has been there – lost under the pile of receipts and invoices and wondering if there is any way out of the endless task.
The same frustration exasperated Michael Wood when he ran his own business and his accountant constantly chased him to get things in order so they could “do the books”.
Business Buddy Client Showcase
We love sharing our stories via our blog and we are finding our clients are doing the same, so we thought it would be great to showcase some of our clients stories here. If you are a client, and would like to showcase your story via your blog, please let us know.
This week we would like to introduce Amy from Powerhoop NZ – This is her story.
Building great client relationships - 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.
What do your customers think about you?
Do you realise that customers are evaluating your business every time they buy from you, use your services, or receive an email, phone call or even an invoice? Do they speak positively about your business? Do they talk about you at all? Or even worse, do they bag you to other potential clients?
Upcoming Event: Attaché Software - Renovate Your Business
Haven't yet attended one of the Attaché Software Business Renovations events yet? Attaché are running an event that has been created to help put start-up energy back into business.
Upcoming Event - Receipt Bank and Chaser
Here at Astill Hawke and Associates Ltd we understand that the time you spend on your bookkeeping and expenses could be better spent building your business.
Therefore, we would love you to join us for a free presentation to hear about these efficient and easy to use products.
Business Buddy Client Showcase
We love sharing our stories via our blog and we are finding our clients are doing the same, so we thought it would be great to showcase some of our clients stories here. If you are a client, and would like to showcase your story via your blog, please let us know. This week we would like to introduce Scott from The Alternative Board.
Building business is child’s play
EVERY parent has that moment when they wish their kids would get off the damn computer and go and play outside – but are all games as bad as older generations think?
Minecraft is an international phenomenon that anyone younger than 25 with a computer or smart device has probably played – if not been obsessed with for a period.
The computer game may look like it is little more than digital Lego but the experts argue there is a lot of learning happening, especially about the fundamental principles of trading and economics.
What changes on 1 April 2015?
Find out how you may be affected by changes from the 1st April 2015.
Ever feel you’re the meat in a tax sandwich?
Are you worried about paying your terminal tax bill on 7 April?
Financial year end is nigh
Trying to tidy up receipts, chase bad debts and track down that one bank statement that has gone to a dark space where only lonely socks hide can be a giant pain in the proverbial.
And, when it is the end of the financial year and your accountant wants to know how many square metres of bench space you use for business in your home workshop – it can be the final straw.
Never fear because help is at hand, especially for those who have never ventured into the world of cloud software to improve business efficiency.
The price is right
Every business goes through that “bugger” moment when they quote for a job and the client happily accepts the price without batting an eyelid.
Then, you walk away kicking yourself that you could have quoted a slightly higher price.
The Business Buddy team feels your pain and they recently worked with a client to determine pricing that worked for the business’s profitability and met market rates.
Upcoming Event - Top Tips for Jumping to Xero
Business and technology is moving faster than it ever has and it’s only going to get faster. The BNZ team wants your business to thrive in these exciting times.
We would love you to join us for an informative session about the wonders of Xero and how BNZ Internet Banking for Business works with it.
Zeroing in on Victoria Crone
The coolest thing about business in New Zealand is that people at the top are very down to earth.
Victoria Crone, managing director from Xero New Zealand is just that – accessible and prepared to chat with the people who use the cloud-based software, or maybe are thinking about it.
When she spoke at an event with Business Buddy and ASB, Victoria focused on the future – not only for Xero but also technology in general. The stuff we don’t know, we don’t know yet.
Thinking of hiring - now its easy to work out costs
Thinking of hiring staff to get more done, but worried about the cost? Business.govt.nz’s new “Employee cost calculator” helps small to medium businesses make confident hiring decisions.
The calculator uses data from government agencies and “Trade Me Jobs” to tailor employment costs to your industry and the type of role you’re looking at. You simply click on a couple of boxes to quickly estimate the fixed and discretionary costs of taking someone on.
Starting a Business
"This year, I'm going to work for myself" - is this a New Year's resolution for you or someone you know?
There's a lot to consider before you start a new business, such as what business structure you'll use, do you need to register for GST, will you be an employer and which records you'll need to keep.
Xero’s managing director comes to town
It is time for growing businesses to meet and greet a dynamic business woman who is at the helm of one of the nation’s most significant rising companies.
Victoria Crone became managing director of Xero New Zealand in 2014 and she is taking time out to meet the business-users of the cloud software that has revolutionised the accounting industry.
Organise your life
• If your home was destroyed, do you have copies of all of your essential documents?
• Do your family know where to find your insurance polices, vehicle ownership papers, etc?
• Do you have your phone, electricity and other household service suppliers’ details all in one place?
• Have you documented your funeral wishes?
We all know we need to have our affairs documented and in order, but as it seems such an onerous task how many of us get around to doing it? We have developed the Life Organiser to help you make this happen.
Increasing benefits of Cloud Computing
In this era where a lot of activities are digital, no individual or organization wants their information lost. People also want to have access to their information; especially at the point of their needs. Therefore, one thing of increasing importance is the issue of accessible data storage.
7 steps to brilliant job and staff scheduling
Effective job scheduling is one of the most important but least understood disciplines of business management.
Security is everyone's responsibility
For most of us the internet is an intrinsic part of our lives. We rely on it to get us where we are going, connect us to friends and family and answer all of our questions, no matter how banal. It has also quickly become an integral part of most businesses, enabling them to complete business transactions in mere minutes as well as connect to their customers and a global network.
What does the future look like for Accountants on the Cloud?
Ten years ago, the accounting industry looked very different but new technology is evolving. Cloud-based software is becoming more prevalent everywhere you look; accountants have had to adapt their mode of operation. These changes to the industry will create so many opportunities for accountants. Yet, there will also be notable challenges to face with this level of change.
Why you should take UX seriously
UX (User Experience) is at the heart of every good design. It’s the difference between your customers groaning in wretched frustration, or grinning with enjoyment; with them shaking a defeated fist at your site and hastily clicking away from it, or completing a satisfying purchase and wanting to return for more.
The benefits of Cloud Computing
The cloud – what is it and why is it important? Like the name suggests, the idea of the cloud feels lofty and hard to grasp. Simply put, cloud computing is the practice of using a network hosted on the Internet, or “the cloud,” to store, manage, and process data. This means you won’t have to maintain or own any hosting equipment.
Christmas tax write-offs
Christmas is here and more than anything, it’s usually referred to as the season of love. Love is expressed by giving, and many employers hope to express this love to their employees by giving gifts.
Five important business negotiation strategies
Business negotiation is a world of contradictions. You’ve got to be firm but flexible open and sharing, but a little cagey. There’s a lot to get your head around. But your state of mind might be the most important thing. Aim for a mutually beneficial outcome, and you’ll find the whole exercise more comfortable. Follow these five tips to prepare for your next negotiation.
How to make price quotes work for you
When a customer asks you for a quote, they're giving you a golden opportunity. With the right response, you can close the deal quickly and win new business. Here's how to make the most of price quotes.
Make a mobile office work for your business
Offices used to be essential for most businesses. But mobile technology and new working practices mean that many small businesses don't need any office space. Here's what you need to know about having a mobile office.
$20,000 instant asset write-off extended
The $20,000 instant asset write-off threshold has been extended to 30 June 2019. This means you can continue to claim the cost of new or second-hand assets that are less than the threshold of $20,000.
Construction accounting basics
Construction is unlike any other business. Building projects can last for months or even years – and you might be both an employer and a contractor. So how do you learn the basics of construction accounting?
GST and BAS tips for running a successful business
Successful businesses spend that little bit of extra time on record keeping and getting their tax right, including preparing and lodging business activity statements (BAS). Once set up and organised, you’ll save time in the long run.
How Customers Engage With Social Media Video: 8 Things You Need To Know
Want to peek into the mind of your ideal customer and find out how they engage with social media video? How they are interacting with brands via video? How are they purchasing?
Take a seat, because in this post we break down exactly how customers are watching social media video and more importantly, how they are purchasing from video.
And it’s all based on data and research, so you can start using this intel now, to get results in your business.
Understanding Cloud Computing
Cloud computing got you perplexed? You’re not alone. Most of us talk about ‘the cloud’ without even realising what it really means. We’re clearing the air on cloud computing and how it can benefit your small business.
Aussie businesses get over $3.5m to launch their innovative idea into global markets
Offers for grants worth over $3.5 million will support 7 businesses to help launch their innovative products, processes and services into domestic and international markets.
The funding has been provided from the Accelerating Commercialisation element of the Entrepreneurs’ Programme.
Crafting Your Mobile Strategy: How Retailers Can Go Mobile and Increase Sales
We no longer need studies to tell us: Smartphones are almost everywhere. Most of the customers coming through your doors have a mobile device with them. And these devices aren’t always shoved in pockets or bags — shoppers are using them while they’re in store too.
Customer-centric banking innovation in Asia
Over 100 accounting/bookkeeping, marketplace and banking partners across Asia joined us in Brisbane this year to attend Xerocon, the most innovative conference for cloud leaders in Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
If You Don’t Got the Time, You Don’t Got the Money
Clichés. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them. (See what just happened there—it’s that bad).
The most widespread, just-waiting-to-pop-out-at-you, cliché is a very short one, measuring just three words—time is money.
Make your business's homepage stand out!
The homepage is the most important page of your business’s website. It is the virtual shop front to your business, providing your customers a first impression of what you have to offer. You only have seconds to grab your customer’s attention so it is key to make sure that they can find what they’re looking for quickly and easily.