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Systemise Your Business

Paul Martin • Mar 16, 2014

If it works, write it down – chances are you'll need to remember how you did that at a later date. In fact, why not write everything down, every function of your business. If your business follows a set of systems, it's likely to be highly organised and offer consistent service.

Various commentators have suggested the most successful way to run a business is to write everything down and develop the system as if the business was a franchise.

For a franchise business to be successful, it has to be replicated in many different locations and possibly different countries. The only way for that to work is if the business has been systemised. This means that for each and every function of the business there is an explanation of, or a system for, how the function is  
carried out, for example, the way your staff answer the phone, take messages, give quotes, make a sale and so on.

This system is then followed step-by-step by anybody who has responsibility for that function. For example, when we go into a McDonalds restaurant in Paris we would expect to receive the same service and the same food as a McDonalds restaurant in Wellington. Every function in that business – down to how the meat patties are cooked – has a system.

Franchise businesses, like McDonalds, have seen phenomenal success over the last 35 years and one of the key ingredients in that success would appear to be the preparation and implementation of systems.

Unfortunately though, many small to medium-sized businesses do not follow the franchise lead. In most cases they have no written system in place at all and often lack the discipline of the franchised systems.

Take a look at your own business. What happens when you go on holiday or you employ new people? Can it continue to run without missing a beat? While you might be intimately familiar with every function of your business you can't expect the same from everyone else. But if there is a system outlining how everything is done, you might be able to take that much needed break and you won't even be missed – that's what you're aiming for.

One of the key messages to come out of franchising is that what you do is not nearly as important as doing what you do the same way each and every time. If it's written down, new staff members should be able to pick up the task and complete it in a consistent manner.

How the new Government and coalition agreements might affect owners of residential rental properties

By Paul Martin • 04 Dec, 2023
There were some key takeouts of interest to many of our clients from the recently signed coalition agreements between National, ACT and New Zealand First and the formation of the new Government. In particular there are a number of policies which will likely benefit landlord clients who own residential rentals. I have summarised some of these below. 1. Return of Interest deductibility for residential rental properties Interest deductibility for residential rental property owners will return. It will be phased back in over three tax years: • 2023/24 tax year: 60% of interest cost will be deductible. • 2024/25 tax year: 80% of interest cost will be deductible. • 2025/26 tax year: 100% of interest cost will be deductible. 2. Reduction in bright-line period National signalled in their pre-election campaign that the bright-line period for residential rental property sales would reduce from 10-years to 2-years. While the exact implementation of this policy is not yet known, it is good news on the horizon for residential property investors. 3. Reinstatement of 90-day no-cause termination notices The new government will reinstate 90-day no-cause tenancy termination notices. This will avoid many unnecessary disputes in the Tenancy Tribunal and gives landlords more confidence in letting to possibly “marginal tenants". Many landlords have avoided what they considered to be risky tenants because eviction for anti-social behaviour was so difficult. With this reinstatement, landlords might be more inclined to give a marginal tenant a chance because they know that if the tenant misbehaves, they won’t be stuck with them. If you would like more information on how these changes might affect your personal circumstances, please feel free to contact us to discuss further.

How does provisional tax work, especially in an economic downturn?

By Paul Martin • 18 Jul, 2023
If you had to pay tax of more than $5,000 in your last income tax return, you may have to pay provisional tax for the following year. Provisional tax is like making progress payments on next year's income tax.

How to handle inflation as a sole trader

By Paul Martin • 18 Jul, 2023
Sole traders have had an especially difficult few years as inflation surges. We have got three tips to help lighten the load for your sole trader business. 
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