Know your business inside out!

Have you seen an episode of Dragons Den, the show where entrepreneurial folks with start up businesses present propositions to potential investors i.e. ‘The Dragons’? It all starts off a bit fluffy and excited about each idea then the drilling down begins and you start to see what, if anything, the hopefuls know about their business. If you were put on the spot could you answer: • Who are your customers/target market? • Are you speaking to the right customers about the right things? • Do you understand your staffs strengths and weaknesses? • Do you have some clear key performance indicators that you monitor? • Do you understand your financial statements enough to be able to manage cash flow and plan budgets? • Do you have any marketing activity and if so is it working? We are able to supply you with a check list in order for you to consider how well you know your business. Let us know if you would like a copy. We can help with lots of these areas: • Explain your financial statements for you • Cash flow management • Budgeting and tax forecasting • Marketing advice • Strategic planning • Succession planning By having a good handle on all these things we look for possible savings, make sure you have no surprises and plan for tax payments and expenditure. It’s smarter to be schooled up. It’s your business and you should know it intimately! To grab a business check list drop us a line here.

John Key State of the Nation

On Wednesday of this week Prime Minister John Key addressed New Zealand with his State of the Nation speech. The focus was about making tough but sensible decisions now to lift the country's economic performance. Most of the focus was to reduce government debt and spending, sell off parts of state assets and build a platform for future growth. Check out John Keys video diary below for a nice concise summary of the plan.

Election year, thinking caps on!

Move out of the Fog and into the Cloud

Remember in 1984 when the Dire Straits song Money for Nothing came out we thought the music video was just outrageously amazing - stuff we had never seen before. The guitar riff of course is memorable and the lyrics are still some-what offensive today as they included a double banger use of the 'F' word...no not that 'F' word...the other one...yeah you got it.

My point? Things that are new and weird, in time, often turn out to be the norm. The most recent example is internet banking...bye bye cheque book...(audible sigh of relief)

Now you might have heard these Cloudy terms bandied about, or you might not have? They are a fancy pants way of saying lets use online tools to make life easier and safer. Here I'll break it down for ya!

SaaS

SaaS or Software as a service. The means that programs exist in a web based format. So instead of purchasing an application and installing, updating and maintaining yourself, the program is taken online. A monthly or yearly subscription allows you access to use the technology accessed via the internet.

So this means you do not have to install anything and that you can access it from anywhere. It's cool also cause you pay for what you use with no pesky updates, back up or security issues - that's what you pay for.

One of our fave tools is ipayroll. Its the easy peasy way to pay our staff, keeps the records, take care of PAYE and Kiwisaver and create pay slips that our employees can sign on in and grab themselves. Love it!

Web 2.0

A phrase coined by Tim O'Reilly; this term primarily relates to tools that promote interactive collaboration. Best examples are Googles apps, Wikipedia, YouTube and social networking sites. So you are probably already in the game without even realising it right? I kinda see it as a all hands on deck kinda situation and as Tims says "the more people that use it, the better it becomes". So one of our useful tools is this wee blog. We use a Google Blogging platform called Blogger, its easy, everyone can have input, guests can make a comment and we can tweet our posts on Twitter. Nice...

The Cloud

The idea of cloud computing encompasses these aforementioned tools and refers to the use of remotely accessible systems, information and programs accessible via the internet. The internet can be used for data storage space and data centres.
Our friends at Xero are in the Cloud, their online system ticks all these boxes as it is interactive, accessible and functional. Lovely!

What does all this mean to you?

It means you can be efficient and that information and systems are accessible. Taking your business into the Cloud (where appropriate) can mean that your business is nimble. You can streamline your systems and get back to doing what you do best. In a nutshell, it clears away the fog of day-to-day intricacies and opens your mind to possibilities in your own field of expertise.

In the words of Mark Knopfler you'll get you "money for nothing, and your chicks for free".

Goals for 2011

Right, as you start to wind your mind back into work, the year ahead, getting the kids back in school your thoughts may drift to setting some goals for 2011.

The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research recently released the results of its quarterly survey of business opinion showing a varied view out and about. Larger businesses are feeling slightly confident where smaller to medium sized businesses are daring to feel optimistic. Notably these survey results were collected early December and I would suggest having 2010 clearly in the rear view mirror now may spark some timely 'glass half full' attitudes.

Regardless of the media or survey results, owners and operators of small to medium enterprises know that it is socks up, chins up and onwards. Time to make a plan!

A great way to figure out what you hope to achieve this year is to brainstorm the heck out of it. Write it all down, use crayons if you feel the urge...you'll be amazed what you realise you might wanna do just by putting devoted time into thinking about it. Think about family goals, health and fitness goals, the possibility of new hobbies or learning something new. How is work going, is it satisfying? Do you have a marketing plan and business plan? We suggest just getting it all on paper...and making them dreamy and making them huge!!

One helpful little ditty may be S.M.A.R.T goals:

S - Specific (or Significant).

M - Measurable (or Meaningful).

A - Attainable (or Action-Oriented).

R - Relevant (or Rewarding)

T - Time-bound (or Trackable)

From here you can create an action plan and get going!

Here at Findlay and Co we know about financial goal setting and planning. This economic climate may have leached the energy and motivation out of small business owners but as the tide turns we suggest getting small achievable goals of satisfaction and monetary rewards back into the scope of your operation. We have adapted our businesses to change and we must consider how do our business thrive in this new era?

So if you need a sounding board, a coach, an ear or technical advice, come on in and see us and let's put 2011 on the map for your business. We are here to help!

Tough Challenge Wanaka

Conditions made it a tough race this year with blustery winds making it even more difficult than the already challenging ironman distances to be faced. Challenge Wanaka 2011 sure proved to be doozy for all the 1,200 competitors!

Southlander Jamie Whyte took out the honors in what was only his second ironman race. The ironman triathlon distances covered are an incredible 3.8km swim followed by a 180km bike ride topped of with a marathon distance run...fun!

Belinda Granger the winning woman stated that this was the most difficult of the 42 iron-distance races she has competed in with the wind back from Cromwell making it devastatingly difficult.

We expect some sore bodies to be about the town, hopefully they have stayed to enjoy what is a beautifully clear and calm day in Wanaka today.

Congratulations to all involved!

Challenge Wanaka

There is a very exciting vibe in the air as Wanaka is on Challenge count down!!

There are crowds of people involved in the event - competitors, support crew, volunteers and friends and family. Wanaka is packed to the gunnels with sporty folk and their entourage!

The weather is looking great so get out on the side walk and support the racers and support the town.

Good luck tomorrow, we wish you all the best!

Wanaka Rodeo

If you are looking for some fun in the New Year the Wanaka Rodeo is on January 2nd at the local Rodeo grounds...how fun.

Grab a chilly bin, some sunscreen and the kids and get down amongst the fun!

Yehaaw!

Happy New Year Southern Lakes!!

Folks we hope you have had a wonderful break over Christmas and New Years...happy 2011 to you!

We look forward to working with you this year!