Best Start payments give extra support to families over the first three years of a child’s life in New Zealand. To get Best Start you need to be registered for Working for Families.

The government announced change coming in to effect on 1st April 2026 mainly affects the first year of the Best Start program.

Previously, all families received the full payment ($77 per week) for the first year, but for children born from 1 April 2026 onward the payment will be income-tested immediately.

Children born before 1 April 2026

First year: The full $77 per week is paid regardless of family income.

Second and third years: The payment becomes income-tested, reducing when family income exceeds $79,000 in these years.

Children born on or after 1 April 2026

For children born from this date, the $77 weekly payment is income-tested from the start.
If a family’s annual income exceeds $79,000, the payment will gradually reduce.

You can find more detailed information on these changes and how they might affect you on Inland Revenue’s website

Minimum Wage is increasing from 1st April 2026

If you are an employer, business owner, or manager, now is a good time to make sure you are prepared for these changes.

From 1 April 2026:

• Adult minimum wage: increases from NZD$23.50 to NZD$23.95 per hour

• Starting-out and training minimum wage: increases from NZD$18.80 to NZD$19.16 per hour.

All rates are before tax and before any lawful deductions (such as PAYE, student loan repayments, or child support).

Take this opportunity to review your business processes, employment records and systems.

• Check that your payroll system is ready and updated for the 1 April changes, whether you have a manual or computer-based system.

• Re-calculate and update your budgets and cashflow as the increase may have an impact, including on items such as ACC levies, KiwiSaver contributions and holiday pay.

• Check if you need to adjust other pay rates to keep things fair.

• Consider reviewing your pricing strategy. 

Introducing Itsuki, another amazing client of ours, who is preparing to open a brand new veterinary clinic in Drury. As a mobile general practice veterinarian, Itsuki focuses primarily on treating dogs and cats and providing comprehensive care, including preventative health, diagnostics, and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions.

The decision to start her own clinic was inspired by the encouragement and trust of friends and clients who value the care Itsuki provides. Establishing a stand alone clinic has been a rewarding milestone and will allow Itsuki to deliver high quality veterinary care in an independent practice.

A key area of her expertise is sonography. Itsuki performs both abdominal ultrasound and echocardiography and also provides referral ultrasound scans for other clinics across the greater Auckland region - clocking up approximately 1000 ultrasound scans each year!

Internal medicine is another focus area of Itsuki’s and through diagnostic imaging and careful clinical assessment, she enjoys diagnosing and managing a variety of medical conditions, with treatment tailored to each individual patient.

Clients often comment on the thoughtfulness and level of care Itsuki provides to both pets and their families. Her ideal clients are people who truly love their animals and want the best possible care for them.

Outside of work, Itsuki enjoys walking with her dogs and cooking.

The new clinic is currently being set up and is expected to open before May, bringing experienced veterinary care to the Drury community.

You will find Itsuki’s new clinic here:

https://www.sonovet.co.nz/ - Stay up to date with the clinic’s opening!

It’s hard to believe, but the end of the financial year (EOFY) is just days away. To ensure we get the best result for your business, now is the perfect time to review key areas.

 To ensure we get the best result for your business, now is the perfect time to review key areas:

• Asset Register: Have you sold or scrapped any equipment lately? Let us know so we can update your depreciation schedule.

• Bad Debts: Take a look at your aged receivables. If there are invoices you know won't be paid, they must be physically written off in your system before 31 March to claim a deduction.

• Complete a physical stocktake at 31 March and write down any obsolete or damaged stock.

• Provide us with your bank and loan balances as at 31 March 2026.

• Provide invoices for any large repairs undertaken during the year.

• Provide invoices for any asset/capital expenditure purchases or asset sales.

• Complete our Home Office form online (this is easier than the questionnaire):
  https://forms.gle/RFQe3r6uPSbXiv7EA

Getting these bits sorted now makes for a much smoother tax season later.

Claiming your eligible business expenses is one way to reduce your small business tax bill. We explain what costs you can claim as a business owner.

“Q: What expenses can I claim as a Kiwi small business? And what’s the financial advantage of claiming for business expenses?”

When you’re running a small business, there’s a multitude of operational costs and business expenses that you’ll incur in the everyday running of the company. But which of these costs are classed as business costs and are therefore tax-deductible at year-end?

“A: The short answer is that you can claim for any expenses which are wholly related to the day-to-day running of your business”

By claiming these expenses against tax, you can directly reduce your overall tax liability – and that means a smaller tax bill at year-end.

As the owner of the business, you can claim for:

- Vehicle expenses, transport costs and travel for business purposes

- Rent paid on business premises

- Depreciation on items like computers and office furniture

- Interest on borrowing money for the business

- Some insurance premiums

- Work-related journals and magazines

- Membership of professional associations

- Home office expenses

- Work-related mobile phones and phone bills

- Stationery

- Work uniforms

- Tax agent’s fees

Helping you claim all eligible business expenses

There’s more information about claiming expenses on the business.govt.nz website (https://www.business.govt.nz/tax-and-money/reducing-your-tax-bill/claiming-expenses)

If you’re unsure what you can and can’t claim, come and talk to our team. We’ll be happy to run you through the eligible expenses and how you claim them against tax.

Can you take a break from tech?

If you run a small or medium-sized business, your brain is probably always half in your inbox. The trouble is, constant connection quickly drains your focus and energy. A few tiny breaks from tech each day can reset your head, your mood, and the way you show up for your team.

Here are six easy ways to unplug and enjoy the benefits of a brief break from tech:

1.   Set one tech-free window each day

It can be as short as 15 minutes; commit to one intentional break from your phone, computer, TV, and tablet — ideally when you’re awake!

2.   Take a walk

The younger generation calls this a ‘silent walk’, but most of us just call it… walking. Skip the earbuds, ditch the podcast, and pay attention to the sights, sounds, and smells of the real world.

3.   Buy a phone safe

If the pull of your phone is too hard to resist, try a timed phone safe. Pop your phone inside, lock it, and revel in the forced freedom. (Phone ’prisons’ can be found online for less than 20 dollars.)

4.   Use Do Not Disturb mode

You’ll still receive urgent calls, but you won’t be interrupted by group chats or never-ending notifications.

5.   Get a notebook

If you reach for your phone without thinking, keep a notebook nearby. Every time you reach for your phone, jot down why you wanted it and how you were feeling. After a few weeks, you’ll start to spot patterns.

6.   Put your phone up high

Just like keys on a hook, give your phone a home – somewhere slightly inconvenient – so you can’t automatically reach for it..

Inland revenue takes a tougher stance on tax debt in 2026

Inland Revenue has stepped up its approach to overdue tax with faster follow-ups, closer monitoring, and earlier enforcement for businesses that fall behind.

Part of this shift comes from improved technology and automation, which have allowed them to detect overdue balances sooner and respond more consistently.

Carrying tax debt? Act early.

Inland Revenue is far more willing to work with businesses that make contact before debt snowballs. They encourage businesses to clear overdue balances or set up instalment plans straightaway.

Prevention is better than cure

Now is a great time to consider your cashflow for the year ahead, factoring in seasonal dips, late invoices, and potential expenses. But you don’t have to go it alone. If you’re dealing with debt – or trying to avoid it – we are here to help!

The NZ economic outlook for 2026

Trading has been challenging in 2025. But the economic outlook for New Zealand small businesses does look brighter as we head into the new year.

“The business environment has remained challenging in 2025, defying expectations of a steady improvement in economic growth”

Westpac’s NZ Economic Overview October 2025 had some sobering insights into the state of the NZ economy. But brighter times are on the horizon for 2026.

“In the short term, businesses, sectors and regions more directly tied to the primary sector will continue to enjoy better times. It’s likely the first fruits of the Government’s Investment Boost policy will be borne there, given cashflows are stronger in those sectors.”

The report also expects:

- The strength in the economy to broaden and strengthen as a result of falls in borrowing costs.

- Better labour market conditions to bolster consumer confidence and spending

- Optimism in the market to translate into more investment and hiring in the here and now.

How does this impact your business?

Times have been tough and trading conditions are challenging. But as we begin 2026, there is a mood of quiet confidence among New Zealand small businesses.

The key now is to translate this confidence into increased sales, stable revenues and a more strategic focus on growth over the next 12 months.

Does your business idea have wings? 5 steps for starting a business

When a great business idea pops into your head, it could mark the start of a whole new enterprise. But how do you know if your business has what it takes to conquer the market?

The key is to set the right foundations for nurturing your fledgling business – and that means planning out the business basics, and your core strategy, in the best possible detail.

Setting solid foundations for your new business

The majority of new Kiwi businesses fail within the first five years. This is a sobering thought, for sure. But by planning your new business idea in detail you can increase the chances of your new business finding a foothold and climbing to the top of the startup pile.

If you’re wondering how to achieve this, don’t worry. Thankfully, the NZ government has an excellent 5-point plan for starting a business.

Let’s look at each of the five steps and how they help you kickstart your business.

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Make sure your idea is viable: Do everything possible to check that your business will find an audience, generate revenue and turn a profit.

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Choose and secure your business name: Make sure you have a unique business name that represents your brand and also scores well for SEO and GEO.

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Choose a business structure: Your legal structure is important. Decide if you’re better off being a sole trader, limited company or partnership.

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Register with government agencies: You’ll need to get a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) and register for business taxes with the Inland Revenue via MyIR.

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Look into regulations: There may be industry-specific regulations that your business must comply with, so make sure to check the relevant rules for your sector.

Getting your new business of to the best possible start

Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur on their fifth startup, or a brand new founder who’s starting their business career, it pays to have an adviser who can help you iron out the issues.

Book some time with our team to talk through your business idea. We’ll help you run the numbers, test the viability and get a workable business plan together.

Tax and Paying People – allowances, benefits, lump sums

Do you pay your employees sums in addition to their normal wages, such as allowances, benefits, lump-sum payments, or holiday pay? Be aware of your tax liabilities and know when you need to deduct PAYE on behalf of your employees.

Sometimes you may pay your employees sums in addition to their normal wages, such as:

- allowances

- benefits

- holiday pay

- lump sum payments

Some are tax free, but most are taxable. For some, the employer pays tax. For others the employer deducts PAYE on the employee's behalf.

You may also provide various non-cash benefits to your employees as part of their total employment package. Even where the benefits are not in cash, they still have a value which is taxable.

The tax treatment depends on what the payments are for and the circumstances that apply.

It can be confusing working out the tax treatment of these payments for your business. Let us know if you would like to discuss how the rules apply to your business.

Slow Payers Cost You Real Money

We know you would rather be out there growing your business, than be on the phone calling slow payers. But do you understand the impact slow payers have on your business? Ineffective debtor management can really hurt your business.

We know you would rather be out there growing your business, than be on the phone calling slow payers. But do you understand the impact slow payers have on your business? Ineffective debtor management can really hurt your business.

You know you need to get your debtors to pay, but do you understand the true impact of slow payers? Without a realistic picture of the costs of slow payment, ineffective debt management practices may:

- Reduce your cashflow

- Create a snowball effect – if debtors think you’re relaxed about payment, you encourage them to be slow

- Build up an increasing number of debtors, leading you to let smaller debts slide

- Consume valuable time and resources following up slow payers

What you can do:

- If credit reporting information shows a customer is a slow payer, you can put tighter terms in place

- Be straight up about discussing alternate invoicing patterns, payment options and terms

- Use online tools to manage receivables

Online tools can make debt management easier.

- Smart AR has a range of solutions, including:

- Online payment pages for your business to offer all your payment options in one place on a secure digital platform

- accounts receivable automation and digital assistants (AI chat bots) for outbound debtor calls

- or you can simply outsource your accounts receivable to them

- ARCollect allows you to stay on top of receivables without worrying about staff performance and customer behaviour. It’s made to:

- Boost cashflow

- Email smart payment reminders attaching invoices

- Set your rules for automatic payment reminders

- Track collection notes easily

- Tag invoices with common reasons for late payment.

- With Innovative Online Debt Management upload outstanding invoices. IODM automatically schedules reminder letters, debt collection letters workflow, with SMS and/or text messaging.

We can help you with strategies for better cashflow.

Are You Charging What You’re Really Worth?

Setting the right price for your services can be challenging, especially if you are a contractor or operate in a specialised industry. With costs rising everywhere, it is more important than ever to review your pricing strategy. If you have not adjusted your rates recently, you might be leaving money on the table.

Here are five common signs that you may be undercharging.

1. Your Quotes Are Always Accepted—No Questions Asked

Do clients immediately agree to your quotes without negotiating, asking for a breakdown, or trying to get a discount? While this feels good, it might also mean they are pleasantly surprised by how low your price is and are eager to lock in a bargain before you realise it.

2. You Are Constantly Busy but Cash Flow is Tight

Are you working flat out, yet there never seems to be enough money left over to hire an assistant, a subcontractor, or even just invest back into the business? If your workload is high but your bank balance does not reflect it, your prices are likely too low to support sustainable growth.

3. Your Prices Haven't Changed in Over Two Years

In most sectors, small annual price increases are standard practice to keep up with inflation and rising business costs. If your fees have remained the same for several years, you have effectively given your clients a discount each year and fallen behind the market rate. A yearly price review is a healthy business habit.

4. You Are Fully Booked and Turning Away Work

If your diary is packed and you consistently have to say "no" to new clients, demand for your services is clearly outstripping your supply. This is the ideal time to increase your prices. A higher rate will help you manage demand and ensure you are being paid a premium for your in-demand skills.

5. Clients Don't Respect Your Time

Do you find that some clients frequently cancel last minute, are slow to pay, or make unreasonable demands? This can sometimes be a side effect of low pricing. When clients feel they are not paying much, they may not value your time or expertise as highly as they should. Charging what you are worth often attracts more respectful and professional clients.

Finding Your Pricing Sweet Spot

Determining the right price for your services requires a little research. Investigate what your competitors are charging and consider the unique value you offer.

We can also help. With our experience across various industries, we can provide insight into typical market rates. Get in touch for a chat—we would be happy to help you ensure your pricing is on the right track.