Mark Gwilliam

Tax planning – 31 March 2012 Checklist

As the end of the 2011/2012 income tax year draws closer and the due date for paying terminal tax also fast approaching, there’s likely to be a list of issues for you to consider. Taking action now and ensuring your accounts are tidy and up-to-date before 31 March 2012 may help you reduce your tax […]

You And Your Business Idea

One age-old question has puzzled many entrepreneurs to this very day – “what does it take for my business to succeed?” Many budding entrepreneurs, with aspirations of succeeding, dive headfirst into their new business venture. Some triumph; others fail. With so much uncertainty in the current economy, many hopeful entrepreneurs may have to toil hard […]

Ask and you will find – some great questions to ask yourself

I’ve been scribbling notes in note-books, backs of beer mats, etc for many years now. My notes are typically about quotes that motivate me, ideas that spring to mind & books to buy or get from the library. Do you take notes? Great questions can generate great ideas & insights, provide much needed clarity and […]

IRD tax filing dates

It’s that time of year when the nights are colder, and the IRD want their pound of flesh from taxpayers. For the majority of Kiwi tax payers, the last day for filing their 31 March 2011 income tax returns is this Thursday, July 7 2011, unless their returns are prepared by an IRD approved Tax […]

How good are you at customer retention?

Retaining customers has never been more important than it is today. A lot of businesses take pride in being excellent at customer acquisition. Some business owners even use this as a primary measure of their success. It’s probably a good time to ask yourself how much time and effort you actually spend in acquiring new […]

4 tips to survive a weak economy

Like the Auckland weather, it’s often just as difficult to predict the economic climate accurately. During a recession or economic downturn, disaster can quickly strike small business entrepreneurs who are not prepared to weather the storm. Fortunately, all is not lost. You can stay strong in lean times and help is often at hand to […]

Your bank manager – friend or foe?

Maintaining a good businesses relationship with a financial institution (such as a bank, credit card company, etc) has always been important. This is becoming more prevalent as many lenders are consolidating, borrowing becomes harder and options become scarcer. In the past, we may have regarded this relationship as a partnership, where each party stood to […]

How these 3 common misconceptions about accountant affect your business

Many small business owners assume that a healthy business will remain healthy – despite overwhelming statistics that suggest that 80% of businesses fold within 5 years. Just like you take your car for regular servicing, it’s just as important that you remain proactive and give your business a warrant of fitness. You pay your mechanic […]

Survive 2011 With 4 New Year’s Goals

As you settle into 2011, you may be sighing with relief from the last couple of years. You may have made resolutions or goals to do things differently for the next 12 months. And for many of you, many of those resolutions will be broken by the end of January. Understanding that most people break […]

7 ways to pay your accountant less

Using a Chartered Accountant and paying their accounting fee is often considered a normal part of running a business. It’s important for you to consider what you’re getting for your money. Before shopping around to reduce your accounting fees, compare the value that you’re receiving from your accountant. Let me elaborate with some examples: Scenario […]