ABC Business Solutions Limited

09/10/2026

Don't Just Balance the Books. Build a Better Business. Smart business decisions today can make a real difference tomorrow.

As we move towards the end of the calendar year, now is the perfect time for business owners to take a closer look at their finances. Waiting until the last minute can mean missed opportunities, unnecessary stress, and unexpected tax bills.

At ABC Business Solutions Limited, we believe good accounting is about more than meeting deadlines. It is about helping you understand your numbers, plan ahead, and build a stronger business.

Here are five things every business owner should review before the year ends:

✅ 1. Review your cash flow
Are you collecting payments on time? Do you have enough cash available to cover wages, suppliers, GST, and other upcoming commitments? A profitable business can still experience cash flow problems if money is not managed carefully.

✅ 2. Get ahead of your tax obligations
Review your provisional tax position, upcoming GST returns, and other tax commitments. Planning early can help you avoid unpleasant surprises. Remember, tax decisions should reflect your individual circumstances and current IRD rules.

✅ 3. Follow up outstanding debts
Unpaid invoices can put pressure on your business. Review overdue accounts, follow up with customers, and establish clear payment terms for future work.

✅ 4. Review your business performance
Look beyond your bank balance. Which products or services are performing well? Are your expenses increasing? Are your margins where they should be? Your financial reports can reveal opportunities to improve profitability.

✅ 5. Talk to your accountant before making major decisions
Whether you are considering a new investment, purchasing equipment, expanding your business, or managing debt, early advice can help you understand the financial and tax implications.

Remember: your accountant should be more than someone you contact at tax time. A good accounting partner helps you plan, identify risks, understand opportunities, and make informed decisions throughout the year.

At ABC Business Solutions Limited, we are here to support you with accounting, tax compliance, and practical business advice.

📞 Let’s talk about your business goals.

📍 Flat Bush: 27/2 Bishop Dunn Place
📍 Papatoetoe: Level 1, 185 Great South Road
☎️ 09 279 1234

ABC Business Solutions Limited
Your accounting & business consulting partner.

20/09/2026

Succession Planning: Securing the Future of Your Business

Every successful business eventually faces one critical question: what happens next? Succession planning ensures that when leadership or ownership changes, your business continues to thrive.

Without a clear plan, even profitable companies risk losing value, direction, and key people. A well‑structured succession plan protects what you’ve built, reduces conflict, and gives confidence to staff, clients, and investors.

It’s not just about retirement, it’s about continuity.
Effective succession planning identifies future leaders, prepares them for responsibility, and structures ownership and tax arrangements to safeguard your financial future.

At ABC Business Solutions, we help business owners design practical succession strategies that preserve value, protect relationships, and secure long‑term growth.

Start planning today, because the best time to prepare for tomorrow is now.

16/09/2026

Small businesses make up 97% of all NZ businesses, employ around 28-29% of the workforce, and contribute over a quarter of our GDP. But being busy and being financially healthy aren't the same thing.

Phones ringing, customers in, orders going out — it looks like success. But a business can be flat out and still losing money because:

✔️ Pricing doesn't cover the real cost of the job
✔️ Discounts and "mates' rates" eat the margin
✔️ Cashflow is stretched by slow invoicing or late payers
✔️ Owners work 60-70 hour weeks covering roles that should be paid staff
✔️ Rising costs quietly erode the bottom line
✔️ No time left to review the numbers or plan ahead

Busyness can hide financial stress — sometimes until it's too late.

Real strength comes from clarity: know your margins, understand your cashflow, price with confidence.

Busy is good. Profitable is better. Sustainable is best.

At ABC Business Solutions, we help you build the version that lasts.

14/09/2026

💰 CASHFLOW IS KING 👑
Every business owner has heard it before but it bears repeating: profit is an opinion, cash is a fact.
Here are a few simple habits that keep cashflow healthy:
✅ Invoice promptly — don't let paperwork delay your payday
✅ Follow up on overdue accounts early and often
✅ Forecast 90 days ahead, not just this month
✅ Build a buffer for the slow seasons
✅ Review your numbers monthly, not just at tax time
Cashflow problems rarely appear overnight, they build quietly until they're urgent. The businesses that thrive are the ones that stay ahead of it.

Need a hand getting on top of your numbers? Reach out, we're here to help you build a stronger, more resilient business.

06/09/2026

03/09/2026

Health and Safety - FBT Exclusion

"When does the fringe benefit tax exclusion for benefits relating to health or safety apply?" It focuses on why a benefit is provided rather than what the item is.

Answer: Workplace health and safety benefits including employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are exempt from Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) if they directly target and manage a specific workplace risk under the HSWA 2015, and either mimic an "on-premises" benefit or consist of personal protective equipment. General wellbeing benefits do not qualify. This position applies from 1 April 2026, Specifically Inland Revenue notes:

• The benefit must be for an employee.
• It must relate directly to health and safety.
• It must manage a specific workplace risk.
• The benefit does not apply to subsidised travel, accommodation or standard clothing unless they are specifically required to manage a distinct workplace health and safety hazard like protective clothing.

Applies
• Ergonomic desk and chair for employee who works from home to manage the risk of injury
• Counselling services - high-stress workplace affecting mental health
• Covid vaccinations
• Eye and hearing tests - risks relating to workplace
• First aid training to manage workplace injury risks
• Sunscreen for employees who work outside

Does not apply
• Corporate gym memberships, running or biking event to promote general health and well-being.
• Standard every day prescription glasses and hearing aids - because of personal benefit.
• Health insurance premium to manage general risks to an employee's health.

01/09/2026

Second-hand goods

Inland Revenue has more clearly defined the words “second-hand” and “paid”. “Second-hand” is fairly obvious, but you should note that for tax purposes the goods must have been bought in New Zealand.

Payment is of particular significance because it doesn’t matter if a person making the claim is on a payments or invoice basis for GST, they have to have actually paid for the goods to claim the whole amount of GST.

If you buy an asset and put down a deposit, the deposit is payment, but the balance has not yet been paid so you can’t claim second-hand goods GST input tax on this amount. But if you pay for the goods with arranged finance, you have then made payment and can claim the GST. Your loan repayments don’t contain GST.
Sometimes, the deposit will be made in one GST period, but the finance won’t be completed until the next GST period. If this happens, you have to delay your claim for GST on the amount financed until the second GST period.

Special rules apply where second-hand goods are bought from an associated person – such as your company buying a car owned by you.
There are also special rules about leasing.

23/08/2026

There was a lot of new material in the 2026 Budget. Probably the most important include the following.

Charities and not-for-profit organisations
Charities

From 1 April 2028 you will be able to claim refunds throughout the year for your donations to charity. You will also be allowed to instruct Inland Revenue to send your tax credit to that charity. The maximum donations claimable for a credit is going to be capped at $100,000 regardless of income.

Not-for-profit organisations
There was some discussion last year about members' subscriptions being taxable. That’s not going to happen – the law is to be changed to confirm subscriptions will not be treated as taxable income. From 1 April 2027 the tax-exempt threshold is to be lifted from the current first $1000 of income, to $10,000.
Volunteer honoraria have been taxed as Scheduler Payments. From 1 April 2028 organisations will be able to process honoraria as though they were salaries or wages, if they so choose.

Working for Families
From 1 April 2027 some of the Working for Families rules will be simplified. What will not need to be included in family income includes:
• deposits into the income equalisation schemes
• passive income of children
• highly specific tax-exempt allowances and salaries
• specific superannuation and annuity adjustments.
Additionally, the de minimis threshold for "other payments" supporting a family (such as a grandparent contributing regularly to school fees or groceries) is being lifted from $5,000 to $8,000

16/08/2026

Your best customer is worth protecting

Most businesses spend a lot of time trying to find new customers. But the easiest sales often come from people who already know and trust you.

Research consistently shows that retaining an existing customer is generally far less expensive than acquiring a new one. Existing customers are more likely to buy again, spend more over time, and recommend your business to others.

One local tradesperson recently introduced a simple follow-up system. Every completed job received a thank-you email, followed three months later by a friendly check-in asking whether everything was still working well.
The result wasn't just positive feedback. Previous customers began booking additional work and referring neighbours and family members.

Customer loyalty doesn't require expensive marketing campaigns. Often it's built through small, consistent actions: responding promptly, communicating clearly, delivering on promises, and staying in touch after the sale.

Think about your own customer database. When was the last time you contacted your existing clients without trying to sell something?

Sharing helpful tips, industry updates or seasonal reminders keeps your business front of mind. Your competitors are always looking for your customers, so a little attention today can prevent them looking elsewhere tomorrow.

07/08/2026

The business that runs without you

Could your business operate for two weeks without you? For many owners, the honest answer is no.

That's understandable. Most small businesses are built around the owner's knowledge, relationships and decision-making. However, this dependence creates risk. Illness, family emergencies, much-needed holidays time, or unexpected opportunities can quickly expose weaknesses.

Businesses become more valuable – and less stressful to own – when systems replace memory. If you want to step back from the daily tasks that your business depends on, start by documenting those tasks. Create simple checklists for opening and closing processes, invoicing, customer enquiries and ordering stock. Store important passwords securely and ensure key staff understand the essential work.
Cross-training employees also reduces reliance on any one individual.

These improvements don't just prepare for emergencies. They save time, improve consistency and make hiring new staff much easier.

If you ever plan to sell your business, documented systems can also increase its value. Buyers are purchasing a business that works, not just a job that depends on the owner. To be clear, building systems isn't about making yourself unnecessary. It's about giving yourself better options.