Keeping Your Cashflow Strong in Tough Times: Part 2
November 21, 2022
Cashflow is the key component of operating a successful business, regardless of whether your business is in in a holding patterm or in growth mode. Revenue, profit and your bottom line all deserve your attention. With energy prices soaring, supply chain challenges, rising living costs and high inflation, cash is likely to be tight over the coming year and beyond.
Over the past few months, we have been posting a series of cashflow tips via our All Accounted For Facebook page and, as we have now released our final cashflow tip, we'd like to briefly summarise and share some final points for you to consider.
What can you do to improve your cashflow situation?
The more informed you are about your cash position, the more you can do to prepare for any cashflow gaps. It’s this foresight that can make all the difference when you’re battling against tough external economic forces and a downturn in sales. Understanding your cashflow is key, utilising the right tools and practices is secondary.
If you want to safeguard your cashflow, these are just some of the many sensible steps to take:
- Update your prices and your sales strategy – Raising your prices is one way to bring in more cash, with the same volume of sales. But it's a balancing act. Putting your prices up can alienate existing customers and could see you losing customers, but if you can find the sweet spot for your pricing AND also drum up more sales, you can quickly increase revenue and give your cash inflows a healthy boost.
- Plan ahead for the cashflow gaps – When your forecast shows a shortfall of cash coming up, that’s the time to take action. If you can see that there’s a cash hole approaching next month, it’s time to look at ways of raising extra finance to fill that hole. That could mean extending your bank overdraft, taking out a small business loan, or taking out an invoice finance facility with a lender.
- Look for opportunities to cut your overheads – One way to improve your cashflow is to cut down expenditure. If you can cut back on overheads, expenses, and unnecessary costs, this can help re-balance your position, even when cashflow is getting tight. Look for cheaper suppliers, buy in smaller quantities, take every opportunity to cut costs, and keep your spending more sensible.
- Review your cashflow reports regularly – It’s important to look at your cashflow numbers and reporting regularly, not just at period-end. This is particularly important when economic times are tough. With the most current cash information to hand, you can make informed business decisions and aim to keep the business operational.
- Switch to cloud accounting and integrate with cashflow forecasting apps – Accounting and finance technology has moved on in leaps and bounds in the past decade. Cloud Accounting Platforms such as Xero, offer detailed reporting of your cash position in real-time, giving you up-to-date cash numbers. Xero also lets you add third-party apps to create a custom app stack of helpful business tools. With over 1000 apps, there are plenty of cashflow forecasting options to choose from, giving you the ability to forecast your future cashflow position.
Talk to us about your cashflow processes:
With the business in a healthy cashflow position, you provide a solid financial foundation for riding out the global recession. No business is invulnerable in these conditions, but with liquid cash in the business, you have more flexibility and more capital to play with. Contact Ben Duflou or Sarah Toner via advice@aafl.nz today and we will steer you on the right track forward to improve your cashflow processes.
Want to take control of your business performance? We’re here to help you move from guesswork to clarity. Whether you're looking to grow, improve profitability, or simply get a better handle on your numbers - we’ve got your back. We’ll work with you to: Set clear strategic targets Track the numbers that matter Monitor the KPIs that drive real results Get regular insights and support along the way Our expert team will work closely with you to build a performance-focused plan tailored to your business goals. It’s not just about the numbers - it’s about using them to make smarter decisions. Ready to level up your business? Call us on 04 970 1182 to get started today!
Looking to reduce your carbon footprint but not sure where to begin? We’ve got good news. Thanks to Xero’s new partnership with Sumday, you can now access powerful carbon accounting tools - completely free for 12 months! Whether you're just beginning your sustainability journey or looking to enhance your current efforts, this is a great place to start. Sumday is a customisable carbon accounting platform that integrates with Xero, making it easy to track and report your emissions. With sustainability becoming an increasing priority for businesses, suppliers, and customers alike, this is a fantastic opportunity to kick-start your journey to net zero - without the stress or extra cost. All you need is an active Xero subscription. Simply connect to Sumday via the Xero App Store, and you’re good to go. This offer is available from 2 April 2025 to 1 April 2026. To learn more about this offer and to get started, visit: https://www.sumday.io/terms-and-conditions-xero
It’s great to be the boss - you can work any hours you like, right? Unfortunately, for many business owners, that means long hours, plenty of stress, and very few breaks and holidays. Gallup reported that 39% of the owners they surveyed worked over 60 hours a week. Owners often report they are unhappy with their work life balance, and after the challenges of the recent years you might find yourself thinking hard about your priorities. Running a business and having a life Can you run your business effectively and still have enough time left over to do the things you love? You’re the best judge of how much time your business needs, but don’t neglect your wellbeing. If you would like to take back some personal time, you could consider: Delegating – don’t try to do everything yourself. Saying no – not every project is worth taking on. Investing in systems – to reduce time on admin or paperwork. Taking all your leave – find ways to have breaks and holidays. Maximising technology - making sure your systems are all integrated, and using AI where appropriate. Working towards a balance If you really can’t work less right now, try to build your business with a better balance in mind for the future. It’s important that you can step back at some point to take a holiday, travel, or spend time with family. Being tied to your business for more than 60 hours each week isn’t a sustainable way to take care of your health and higher profits aren’t worth that sacrifice. Also, any business that doesn’t allow the owner to step away is very hard to sell and worth far less than one that can run independently! We'd love to help Whether you want to improve your work-life balance now, or build your business to achieve it in future, we have ideas. We’ve worked with plenty of clients who need to reclaim their time, and we know it can be done. Give us a call at 04 970 1182, drop us an email at admin@aafl.nz or come in for a chat - we’re here to help.
Great news! You can now upload multiple bills at once in Xero. Instead of uploading bills one by one, the Upload Bills feature lets you select and upload multiple files from your computer - or simply drag and drop them into Xero. This update makes managing large volumes of bills quicker and easier. To upload multiple bills: 1. In Xero, go to the Bills section. 2. Click the dropdown arrow next to the "New Bill" button and select "Upload Bills." 3. Choose the files from your computer or drag and drop them into the upload window. 4. Click "Upload Files"
View our June / July 2025 General Ledger: - 2025 Annual Accounts Questionnaires - Important Notices - How’s Your Work-Life Balance? - Xero Pricing Increase - 1 September 2025 - Xero Tip of the Month: Upload Multiple Bills at Once in Xero - Xero Assistance Programme (XAP) Ending 31 July 2025 - Welcome to the Team: Josh & Nik - Tax Question of the Month: Ring Fencing of Rental Losses – What Portion Can Be Claimed on the Sale of a Residential Property? - IRD Upcoming Tax Payment Dates https://public2.bomamarketing.com/email/xeGr
Owning a business can be incredibly fulfilling — but let’s be honest, it can also be mentally and emotionally draining. As accountants, we spend a lot of time talking about profit margins, cash flow, and financial forecasts. But today, we want to shine a light on you. Because your health and energy are just as important as your business’s financial performance. Burnout often doesn’t come with an obvious warning—it can sneak up in subtle ways, like: Trouble sleeping Feeling overwhelmed or stuck in making decisions Increased frustration or impatience Losing enthusiasm for things or people you used to enjoy The reality is, YOU are the heart of your business. Taking care of yourself is just as critical as balancing your finances. Step outside for a moment of clarity Don’t hesitate to ask for support when needed Give yourself permission to rest Remember, success isn’t just about the bottom line If you’ve been running on empty, consider this your reminder: it’s okay to pause and admit when things feel heavy. Rest is productive. Taking a moment to breathe and prioritise your health is never a step back — it’s part of the journey forward. And we’re here, supporting you every step of the way.
KiwiSaver Is Changing – Here’s What You Need to Know The Government has announced several updates to KiwiSaver as part of Budget 2025, aiming to improve long-term savings while adjusting who receives government support. These changes will affect contribution rates, eligibility for young people, and government contributions for higher-income earners. Contribution rates are increasing: From 1 April 2026, the default employer and employee contribution rate will rise to 3.5%, and again to 4% from 1 April 2028. Members will be able to apply for a temporary rate reduction from 1 February 2026 if they need to, in advance of the rate increase coming into effect. Employers will be able to match the rate reduction if they need to. 16 - and 17-year-olds will be eligible for more support: From 1 July 2025, young KiwiSaver members aged 16 and 17 will qualify for government contributions, and from 1 April 2026, they’ll also be eligible for employer contributions - helping them start their savings journey earlier. Government contributions are being scaled back: From 1 July 2025, the annual government contribution will be halved, and it will be completely removed for individuals earning over $180,000 in taxable income. For more information and full details, visit budget.govt.nz
A business budget is one of the essential tools in managing your finances and actively building your business. A budget shows what you plan to do with your cash over the next year. For a complete picture of your business health, you need to review the profit and loss statement, the balance sheet, the cash flow forecast and the budget. Taken together, these reports allow you to make informed business decisions and monitor performance. Why have a Budget? Forecast sales and expenses according to monthly or quarterly variations. Evaluate performance over time, including changes or patterns. Get really familiar with where your money goes and where it comes from. Clarify targets and goals and use the budget to help you focus and achieve those goals. Comparing actual figures to budgeted figures allows you to see potential problems early and plan for unexpected costs. A budget will help you to see the big picture and stay motivated over the long term. Where to start A basic budget takes known income and expenses, then makes certain assumptions about the timing of income and planned expenditure. The basic budget is based on cash in and out of the business. Over time, as you start to see the benefits of using a budget, your budget should evolve into a more sophisticated version that includes non-cash elements such as provisions and depreciation. Most businesses will start with one budget but soon move to having three budgets: Business as usual – the next year’s budget is based on current year income and expenses, with perhaps a small adjustment for consumer price index increases. Worst case – budget is based on a pessimistic view of next year’s performance. Best case – budget is based on an optimistic view of performance over the next year. A budget is usually for a financial year, but you can also set up budgets for two to five years. Once you have one budget (or more) set up, you can then run your current financial reports against the budget to see how you are tracking. This allows you to make rational business decisions in real time to adjust accordingly. Your can run your financial reports monthly and adjust your budget as needed. What Next? Now is a great time to put a budget into place for the coming financial year. Book a time with us to help you create a meaningful budget in your accounting software so that you can use it as a proactive part of your business management, strategy and your success.
When it comes to your financial data, you can never be too cautious! While Xero is a cloud-based platform with strong security measures, it’s always a good idea to back up your financial data regularly for peace of mind. Regular exports of important reports and transactions can serve as a safeguard against any unforeseen issues. Although Xero doesn't have a built-in backup feature, you can manually export your data to store it on your local device or secure cloud storage. Alternatively, you can use third-party apps to back up your Xero data, such as: Coupler.io: This app automatically exports data from Xero to spreadsheets, data warehouses, and BI tools. You can set the refresh interval to daily, monthly, every hour, every 30 minutes, or every 15 minutes. Xportmydata: This app automatically backs up your Xero data on a weekly basis. You can also use Xportmydata to export your Xero data to Excel, download attachments, and create CSV import files. Both of these apps are available for download from the Xero App Marketplace. Manual Exporting: If you prefer to export your data manually, Xero doesn’t have a feature to copy all your school's data at once. However, you can export data from specific sections and generate reports individually. Your ability to export data depends on your user role in Xero. If you have the adviser role, you can run and export most reports. However, to export payroll reports, you need payroll admin access. To learn more about how to export your data manually, visit: https://central.xero.com/s/article/Export-data-out-of-Xero
