It’s unusual for tax to be a front page issue but right now there are a lot of headlines being generated and a lot of hyperbole being used by many media commentators. This article is an attempt to look past the spin to make sure that you are up to speed with the tax changes that have occurred that will affect you now as well as the proposals that have… Read more
Ever heard the story about the engineer who fixed the broken machine with a single tap of his hammer? He sent his clients an itemised bill for his work: Tapping with hammer: $5 Knowing where to tap hammer: $95. This is an example of value-based pricing. If you’re like most freelancers or contractors, knowing how to price your services can be a real struggle. Charging an hourly rate can feel less… Read more
Following up on late or non-paying customers is no freelancer or contractor’s favourite task. Which is precisely why you need to set payment terms up front – and in writing – before you work with a new client or customer. By communicating and agreeing on the non-negotiables for doing business with you, you’ll avoid awkward misunderstandings, frustrating disputes, and in most cases, the ugly hassle of debt collection. These tips will… Read more
PayPal is the world leading online payment service. You can transfer money to and from your bank account, pay for goods, and even receive payments worldwide. It’s a useful tool for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and even for personal use. However, it does have its drawbacks. PayPal takes a significant chunk of money when it comes to converting and billing international payments. You could end up losing about 5% of your cash… Read more
From time to time we get asked by clients about moving their rental property into a different entity. Usually when doing this, a property will be “sold” to a related party. The reasons for the request vary but usually relate to a change in the relationship of the people that own the property, a perceived tax benefit from restructuring the finance at the same time as the ownership or else… Read more
For business owners who want financial security now and freedom in retirement, having a financial planner on the team is a must. A financial planner will create a customized, strategic action plan to help you achieve your personal financial goals. Getting to know you and your business inside out is the first step a financial planner will take to understand where you are now, where you want to go, and then… Read more
It’s been said that a business partnership is a lot like a marriage, and the comparison holds true when things go awry: the end of a partnership is a lot like divorce. Lawyers will be involved and assets will need to be divided. However, a separation need not be overly dramatic or unnecessarily painful. These tips can help make separation easier – and more amicable – should your business partnership come… Read more
There has been a lot of talk in the small business marketplace about the new Provisional Tax method called the Accounting Income Method, or AIM. To recap, the AIM method has been heavily promoted by the IRD as a new way of paying provisional tax which removes some of the problems with estimation that exist with the “standard” provisional tax method. Simpler than standard provisional tax? The method was pitched… Read more
If you’re ready to start growing your small business – whether you’ve been operating for a while and you’re in need of a boost, or you’re just starting out – meeting with a business planning specialist is a great first step. Unfortunately, all too common for businesses in this situation, is a lack of time and funds to make this happen. Not only is it hard to time time to… Read more