If cashflow is the lifeblood of your business, then working capital is the health check you should regularly undertake to keep your business alive. Regularly checking working capital will play an essential part in maintaining business success during these times of greater economic insecurity.

Buying another company is a major business decision. It’s a large outlay of capital and a big responsibility to take on. If you’re going to take the leap, it’s important to make sure the company in question is stable, well-managed and has a good future ahead of it.

The foundational goal of any business is to make a profit. As a business owner, that’s one of your key financial aims – to make enough sales, at a big enough margin, to generate profit from your enterprise. But how does profit differ from cashflow? And why is cash king?

As a business owner, you know you need to produce accounts – that’s a given. But do you know the difference between statutory accounts and management accounts? Let’s take a look at the key differences and why you need these specific kinds of accounting.

Incurring expenses is an unavoidable fact of running a business. But which expenses can you claim tax deductions against and which don’t meet the tax-free criteria? Here’s our lowdown on which expenses you can claim against tax.

With today’s inventory management solutions, it’s never been so easy to have complete oversight of your stock levels, popular products and restocking information. Data is king and the more information you have at your fingertips, the easier your stock management will be.

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?

In tough economic times, small businesses can struggle. Big multinational chains often have the scale to undercut local competitors and survive even when times get tough. What can small businesses do to retain and attract customers in a competitive market?

Budgeting is about estimating your revenues, projecting your expenses and detailing the allocation of funds, so you stick to (and don’t overrun) your agreed budget ceiling. How does budgeting affect your business?

Your business plan is the sat-nav that keeps the company moving in the right direction. Having that guidance can be a massive benefit to your success as a business. But what elements should you include, and what are the main considerations to think about?

Ever wondered if debt is a superhero or a villain in the world of business? We get asked this question a lot! Whether you see debt as a trusty sidekick propelling your business to new heights or a sneaky saboteur in the shadows, we’ve got the scoop! We’ll break down the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of debt. 

Need a hand managing cash flow? You’re not alone. The key is getting your invoicing right, by invoicing customers as soon as possible and using tools like Xero’s invoice reminders to move payments along.

Tax planning is a strategic approach to managing your business’ financial affairs, with the aim of legally minimising your tax liability. In other words, you plan ahead to make sure you pay the taxes you should be paying, but not a penny more.

The success of your business depends greatly on the success of your marketing. Getting your key messages, product features and brand identity out into your industry market helps to drive engagement and sales – but we don’t all have millions to invest in this marketing. So, how do you come up with innovative marketing on a shoestring budget?

As a business owner, you want to make the best possible decisions for your business. The choices you make regarding strategy, spending, revenue generation and cashflow management can all have a major impact on the long-term future of the company. So, how do you give yourself that competitive edge when it comes to decision-making?

Starting a business can be a challenging experience, especially when it comes to managing your numbers and staying on top of your financial management. So, what are the most common accounting mistakes made by business owners? And what can you do to avoid these pitfalls and keep your finances looking healthy and shipshape?

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.

One of the best things about online shopping is instant, hassle-free payment. Enter your details, click, and you’re done. If your customers can make an instant online payment, they’re likely to pay you more quickly – and they’ll appreciate the simplicity too.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up 97% of all businesses in New Zealand. As the owner of an SME, you’re doing your bit to provide employment, aid the economy and put Aotearoa on the map in an increasingly globalised world.

Liquid cash is what keeps you trading, growing and hitting your goals as a business. But sometimes, that access to ready cash can slip. And when cash is in short supply, you need a fast and convenient way to bring increased cashflow into the company.