Public and Annual holidays over the 2024 Christmas period

This year, Christmas Day falls on Wednesday, with Boxing day on Thursday.  The same with New Years Day and The Day After New Years Day (they so need a better name for this day!).  So no Mondayising of any of these public holidays this Christmas. Here is what you need to know about rights for employees and obligations for employers. Payment for working a public holiday Employees must be paid…  Read more

Got employees going on annual leave – when do you need to pay them?

Most people are not aware that technically, legislation says that annual leave payments need to be paid, in full, before an employees leave is taken. Thinking about why this is, takes us back to the days of being paid with a little brown envelope fill of cash, and the fact the employee won’t be here the following pay day to collect that cash.   Yes, that legislation is outdated like a…  Read more

When do I have to make payment of a termination pay?

There is nothing in the Act to determine when a payment must be made when an employee’s employment is terminated. There is so much to do for a final pay, and it can become a rushed activity on the final day of employment with the potential to get it wrong. If agreed between the parties, then it can be paid on the next pay day after termination or on the…  Read more

When do I pay my staff over Christmas this year?

With Christmas coming up fast like a freight train without any brakes and the payroll team are working hard to manage all the extra payroll changes over this time.  One of the biggest questions this year is “When do I have to pay my staff?”   With Wednesday and Thursday both being public holidays, and popular days for payment of wages, what happens now that we have 24 hour banking? There…  Read more

6 Financial Documents Any Small Business Needs

Drawing up the right financial documents matters to your small business’ success more than you think they do. They can give you a clear view of your financial health and can help you make sound decisions. Below are the six most useful financial documents that you can benefit from: Income statement – This shows your revenue and expenses and indicates if your business is profitable. Cash flow statement – This…  Read more

Record keeping for construction businesses

If you’re a contractor, it can be challenging to manage a hectic schedule and complex projects, all while ensuring your paperwork, documents, and contracts are in order. It’s important to keep a paper trail of your work and practice due diligence. Keeping all your working documents in order shows that you treat your business, customers, and subcontractors responsibly. This is not only a mark of professionalism but can also help…  Read more

Choosing the right accounting software for your small business

Selecting the right accounting software is a crucial decision for your small business’s financial health and accuracy. With numerous options available, this process can seem daunting, but making an informed choice is essential to streamline operations and mitigate risks such as financial fraud and regulatory non-compliance. Introduction The challenge of choosing appropriate accounting software stems from the need to balance functionality, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness. As cloud computing continues…  Read more

The Power of Financial Models

Financial models are invaluable tools designed to help you understand and project the financial health of your business. By simulating different scenarios and examining potential outcomes based on various inputs like sales growth, margins, and cash flow, these models provide a comprehensive picture that aids in informed decision-making. Practical steps for leveraging financial models: 1. Planning and forecasting Start by creating a base financial model incorporating your current financial data.…  Read more

Are you overpaying your team for annual leave?

Employees are one of the biggest costs, and the most important asset to a business, and annual holidays are a really important part of your teams health and wellbeing.  Ensuring your team are getting what they are entitled to is your responsibility as their employer.  If you don’t get it right, it can cause frustration for the employee, friction in the workplace and could land you in hot water with…  Read more

ESCT Rate – Set and forget on 1 April

Setting the ESCT rate for the next tax year is a 1 April activity that Payroll are responsible for.  As part of your payroll checks and balances, you must check your payroll system is doing as expected. If you are processing payroll manually, you will need to set the ESCT yourself.  Understanding how ESCT is essential to getting this right for anyone involved in payroll. What is ESCT? ESCT (Employer…  Read more

The importance of budgeting, forecasting, goals and understanding the numbers for your business

If you’re like many business owners, you may find yourself struggling to understand what your finances mean or how you can use your financial information to make decisions for your business. Often we get into business because we love a product or service we want to provide. It’s not as common that we love managing the financial aspects of our business.  As a business owner, you have your best chances…  Read more

Financial best practices for small business

When you run your small business, you have a lot on your plate. That makes it tempting to let some tasks slide, especially tasks that are related to finances, which can be challenging and is often outside your preferred skill set or experience. There are some tips you can follow that keep your finances healthy and enable you to thrive. Here are some financial best practices for managing your business,…  Read more

Why are you paying overtime for salaried staff?

Paying overtime to salaried staff has many consequences that a lot of employers are not aware of. The purpose of a salary is to pay an all-inclusive rate that is a fixed, regular payment to an employee for the work they perform. It allows a business to plan and forecast labour costs on an annual basis and can also provide concise data for business planning over the coming years, as…  Read more

Completing Holidays Act 2003 Remediation Calcuations

Remediation of your payroll system can seem extremely intimidating.  There is a lot involved in the process of checking payroll for Holidays Act 2003 compliance.  This information comes from the FAQ section of the Labour Inspectorate website so we thought we would share some of this here. How far back should re-calculations go? Once non-compliance with the Holidays Act 2003 is identified, the expectation of the Labour Inspectorate is that…  Read more

Are you dealing with the Rocks or the Sand?

We so often complain about how busy we are and that there is not enough time for everything. But what is it that you are actually focusing on? Are you including all the things that are important and necessary for your health and wellbeing? If you are, then you will be living a life that is meaningful and leads to optimal health and wellbeing. If you are not, you will…  Read more

5 key steps to prepare for the successful sale of your business

If you’re considering selling your business, the process should begin long before you put the ‘For Sale’ sign up. Selling a business is not just a major financial decision but a life-changing one that requires meticulous planning and a strategic approach. In order to get the maximum return on your investment, you need to understand what potential buyers are looking for and make your business as attractive as possible. Step…  Read more

1st April 2024 Changes – What do you need to know?

It’s almost the end of the Financial Year (again? I know we say this every year, but doesn’t time just fly by?) Here is a summary of the 1st April 2024 changes you need to know:   Minimum Wage Increase: The Adult minimum wage will increase from $22.70 per hour to $23.15 per hour The Starting Out/Training wage will increase from $18.16 per hour to $18.52 per hour   ACC…  Read more

How do you prepare for minimum wage increases coming 1st April 2024?

As a business owner or manager, you need to be ready for the minimum wage rates increase from 1 April 2024. The details of the increase are: Adult minimum wage will go up from $22.70 to $23.15 per hour. Starting-out and training minimum wage will go up from $18.16 to $18.52 per hour. All rates are before tax and any lawful deductions, for example, PAYE tax, student loan repayment, child…  Read more

The Power of Core Values in Business

As a business owner, you’re the architect of your business’s vision and culture. But in the hustle to develop products, chase sales, and keep the lights on, some of the foundation often gets lost in the mix. Core values—those guiding principles that shape your company’s identity—are more than just words on a wall or a statement in a handbook. These aren’t just buzzwords to sprinkle throughout your website – your…  Read more

Is the 4-Day Work Week for You? Pros, Cons and Tips

When was the last time you felt that you had a week’s worth of energy to pour into just four days of work? As COVID-19 has reshaped our work-life balance and continues to redefine what is essential in our professional world, the concept of a shorter workweek is gaining traction. With proposed legislation in various states and countries, and the ongoing conversation among professionals, it’s evident that the discussion around…  Read more

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