NZ Entrepreneur Magazine - Issue 24

NEW ZEALAND’S E-MAG FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS

November 2014

JODY JELAS

Reveals How to Win Online!

Pop up Power DIY Software That Rocks!

The Next Generation Is Here www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz

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ABOUT / Short and sharp, New Zealand Entrepreneur is a free e-magazine delivering thought provoking and enlightening articles,

CONTENTS

industry news and information to forward-thinking entrepreneurs.

EDITOR / Justin Cunningham ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson GROUP EDITOR / Richard Liew

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From the Editor

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER /

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Five Ways To Win Online

CONTENT ENQUIRIES /

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Pop-up Power

14 Evidentially Astute With Trade Marks 18

Young Enterprise Trust

Alastair Noble

Phone Justin on 0212396144 or email justin@nzentrepreneur.co.nz ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES / Phone Jennifer on (09) 522 7257 or email jenniferl@espiremedia.com WEBSITE / nzentrepreneur.co.nz

22 Is It Time To Re-Think Where You Do Business From?

32 Five Kick-Butt Tools to Accelerate Your Marketing

36 Parting Shot

ISSN 2253-5683 NZ Entrepreneur is a GREEN MAG created and distributed without the use of paper so it’s environmentally friendly.

Please think before you print. Thank you!

www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz • 3

EDITORIAL

that will fan the flames of your desire and ambition to help you achieve results.

GREETINGS, MY NAME IS Justin Cunningham. I am an entrepreneur. From producing music for advertising agencies, to launching international music events to designing clothes, to coaching and consulting sales and marketing, I have always been an entrepreneur.

We entrepreneurs are a weird breed. We have a burning desire to create change, go bigger, do better, and conquer new worlds.

We work crazy hours, driven by this desire, and we push the bounds of what others call reality.

We are the challengers, the artists, the inventors, the innovators. We don’t see the world like everybody else. We embrace difference.

As the new editor of NZ Entrepreneur, my focus will be on representing a broader spectrum of entrepreneurs and by providing ‘how to’ information

My promise: You will get more from us than you have in the past. We will look to support all entrepreneurial types as well as the fast emerging worlds of: • Mum-preneurs • Solo-preneurs • Senior-preneurs Our goal is to build the biggest community of entrepreneurs in New Zealand.

We will be looking to create more platforms for communication and contribution.

You will be hearing first hand from leaders in their field, sharing their experience.

I look forward to sharing some fantastic content with you, and hearing your thoughts about the entrepreneurial way of seeing, hearing and experiencing the world. Until then, make it happen!

Justin

NZ ENTREPRENEUR IS PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

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✉

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*Bonus offer only available to new programme members that meet qualifying criteria. Promo code must be quoted when registering.

Above & Beyond Programme terms and conditions apply. Airpoints terms and conditions apply see airpoints.co.nz

www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz • 5

BUSINESS LESSONS

Five Ways To Win Online

Jody Jelas is an online marketer with a mission. Tell it like it is, and transform people around the world with her signature – BOOM! We asked her to share her top five things to do to succeed online.

IT’S TOO EASY, being a kiwi, to get sucked into the ‘tall poppy syndrome’ and play a small game in life. Right from when we were young we are told “Stop trying to be the centre of attention” and “be humble”.

movie stars we’ve produced.

Too many New Zealanders are too scared to shine and they are depriving the world of their much needed wisdom and teaching.

The internet has provided the perfect platform to get your genius out to the world.

Everything you need to smash your entrepreneurship goals out of the park is right at your fingertips.

The question is not “Is there a way to do it?” The question is “Will you?”.

New Zealand has more hidden raw talent for our size than any country in the world. Just look how many successful musicians and

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The truth is every one of us has a brilliance that the world needs. You just have to find what your gifts are and step up to the plate.

Jody Jelas

www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz • 7

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These five ways to win online might just be the ticket to kick off your most epic journey yet.

BE 100% YOU

GO GLOBAL The internet is the window to the world. There is no need to stay local when you can create online, and use systems like Skype or Google Hangouts (both free video or call conferencing) to do presentations to the masses.

Most of my clients are in the USA and I’ve hardly met any of them. Don’t underestimate the attraction of our accents either. To the rest of the world, we’re ‘exotic’.

THE POWER OF FACEBOOK

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Any kind of online success comes down to 3 things. 1. A great offer, 2. Building trust and 3. Making the sale. Facebook is literally an online worldwide relationship builder. It’s not just to share cute cat pics and jokes with your mates. Have you talked to someone on Facebook, then met them in real life and felt like you already know them? It’s powerful!

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Be 100% authentic. It means you’re being true to yourself, and from a business perspective, humans trust people who are honest and open. It’s pretty easy to read who’s genuine and who’s just showing the side they want others to see. Business and life just flow better when you are being the best version of you and sharing your natural genius. Plus, it’s so much more fun that way!

Business and life just flow better when you are being the best version of you and sharing your natural genius.

FOCUSED FUNNELS EQUAL SALES

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I am all for putting yourself out there in whatever way is natural to you. Blogging, Facebooking, Tweeting, and Emailing: whatever is easiest so that you are consistent.

However, you can put out all the ‘stuff’ in the world, but if you’re not directing it into a focused online funnel that then invites people to purchase your offer, then it’s wasted time and money. It doesn’t need to be complicated either. You can create a simple online sales funnel that is automated and brings you only qualified leads, and closes sales.

GO ALL IN

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You can’t just dip your toe in. You have to be mentally committed 100 percent.

There is always some action involved to get set up, so you have to be willing to do the work. That may mean some super long hours to start, but if you’re doing something that you are truly passionate about, you will wake up each day amping to get stuck into your venture, boots ‘n all!

FREE FOR NZ ENTREPRENEUR READERS: MY SIMPLE SALES FUNNEL SYSTEM

I’m sharing with you my entire simple automated sales funnel, one that bought me many five-figure days, even when I had no list (and I’ll even show you how to create your ultimate high ticket offer). You can get your free video training and access to my online profit calculator over at: www.BoomFormula.com/nzem or watch my free blog videos over at: www.JodyJelas.com • Jody Jelas is the creator of the BOOM! formula, a step by step system for online program creation and automated sales funnels

www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz • 9

INTERVIEW

P P U U P P O O PPPOWER Lizzi Hines has created an end-to-end service for retailers and agents, simplifying the entire process of setting up the ultimate pop-up space on one site. We asked her what it took to bring her dream to life that really, anything is possible.

EXCLUSIVE SUIT SUPPLY. After.

What exactly is Pop Up Now? EXCLUSIVE SUIT SUPPLY. Before.

prospect of signing on for a six year lease can be a frightening Pop Up Now by Spaceworks proposition that can often is New Zealand’s first online put people off. Pop ups allow one-stop solution for pop up retailers to test the market, stores and events. It provides see how they would work in an end-to-end service to a certain location, or even retailers and landlords/leasing whether their product sells agents, by simplifying the well. It’s a win-win situation. entire process and having What’s more, temporary everything needed for a popretail, including clearance up space on one site. and pop up stores, is now We’re also creating a an $80 billion a year industry community of shoppers worldwide, a proof-point of seeking out the hottest pop up evolution, and the desire experiences in New Zealand. from consumers to actively participate in purchasing. Pop Up Now has been created to What made you decide this was a lead this retail revolution in great idea?

New Zealand by providing Being in the industry for space, suppliers, advice and 15 years, I have worked know-how in one accessible with 100’s of major retailers site that encourages brands to and boutique retailers. The participate in this movement.

www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz • 11

You’ve had previous success with Spaceworks. How important do you think this was when starting up this new project?

What challenges have you faced in It’s hugely important. My getting this up and running? experience as Managing Because Pop Up Now is the first of its kind in New Zealand, it can take some time for people to understand the benefit of our service, which is that we make the entire process easier for everyone involved.

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Director for Spaceworks has provided me with a huge amount of insight into what makes a successful retail space work: whether it’s a long-term and short-term lease, our designs sell product and build brand.

How have you managed your time when having multiple projects on the go?

I am now Managing Director of five businesses, so time is precious and planning paramount.

I always spend Sunday night planning the week ahead and I have learnt to delegate. I also ensure my staff are as inspired and energised by the work as I am.

How are things going so far and what’s the big goal for this project?

We are overwhelmed by the positive response from retailers and leaseholders and landowners. We have close to 50 listings already and this is growing day by day. Our service has also grown into pop up bars, so the business is expanding quickly, and beyond our expectations.

The goal is to be the ‘go to’ company for anything Pop Up. We want to create a community who are as passionate about Pop Ups as we are.

I live and breathe making new ideas come to life: it’s what I live for.

However, with my passion always comes with a huge dose of planning and meticulous execution.

Do you have any advice for others who have an idea but haven’t done anything with yet?

I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so for me it’s in my blood. I live and breathe making new ideas come to life: it’s what I live for. However, with my passion always comes with a huge dose of planning and meticulous execution.

So, I would recommend to anyone looking to make the leap, they must be prepared for every situation and wholeheartedly believe in what they’re doing.•

To contact Lizzi Hines about her work go to: www.popupnow.co, www.spaceworks.co.nz or www.facebook.com/popupnownz Pop Up Now APP http://ow.ly/A7RpW #popupnow #popup

www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz • 13

IP IN ACTION

EVIDENTIALLY ASTUTE WITH TRADE MARKS

Trade marks matter. You need them. If you don’t have them, you won’t easily be able to stop counterfeits or rip-off merchants taking advantage of all the hard work you put into your business. They are one of your most valuable assets, and they need to be protected.

BY JONATHAN AUMONIER-WARD and GILLIAN NELSON

IMAGINE THEN THAT you've filed your trade mark application, only to receive a response entitled ‘provisional refusal’ or ‘Notice of Objection’. Some bureaucrat is telling you that your mark is too descriptive to be protected, or perhaps some other nefarious business already owns a similar mark.

The audacity!

At times like this, when you turn to your intellectual property (IP) advisor, you will be asked to gather up ‘evidence of use’. You will need this evidence to convince the bureaucrat that you can own the word CLOUD, for example.

Or to prove that you started using your mark way before this or that other business got off the ground.

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What If You're Not Intending To Register Your Trade Mark Now? You should still plan ahead.

By keeping good records now, you will make gathering ‘evidence of use’ a whole lot easier when you do have to deal with it.

Record-keeping is particularly important if your trade mark is likely to face problems: too descriptive, not distinctive, or if it's a surname, a place name, a shape, a colour or a sound.

You'd be amazed how often companies can't find copies of advertisements they published last year; or don't know how much of their product sells each year.

DATES AND EVIDENCE It may not seem important to keep a copy of that article promoting your product (and trade mark) that appeared in the newspaper last week. But, it shows that your business is known in the community. Cut the article out. Start a dated scrap book (physical or virtual).

Here's a list of documents and information that can help you: • Media releases and advertisements referencing the trade mark • Financial records (income and money spent on advertising)

• Market share information • Copies of license and distribution agreements • As many examples as possible of when, where and how you used your trademark.

You are probably already generating these items in your daily business, so be sure to keep dated copies.

Make it part of your marketing process. If you have more than one trade mark, record which information relates to which trade mark.

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LICENSING TIPS Is licensing a part of your business strategy?

When licensing your trade mark to someone else, have agreements in place to make sure you own their 'use' of your trade mark. Ask licensees or distributors to keep, or to send you, records of the number of products they've sold. It's not just about what you have personally done with your trade mark; it's about how your trade mark is used throughout New Zealand.

Other considerations If you've commissioned an artist to design a logo, make sure you own the copyright.

Changed the look of your trade mark? Keep records of how it has changed and why.

Look at whether you're using your trade mark properly. If your trade mark is descriptive, have a chat with your IP advisor to ensure the way you're using it clearly shows

it's a trade mark and not a descriptive term. For example, “All bendy straws on sale today” is a descriptive term, whereas “All BENDY™ straws on sale today” is not.

It's a small change that is relatively easy to make, but an important one.

If you know your trade mark is potentially descriptive, or you use lots of different stylisations of the same word, try and make sure you use your trade mark in a plain (un-stylised) form at least some times, and keep records showing that use. It will help you later.

When it comes time to send evidence to your IP advisor, they should tell you what's needed to try and overcome the specific problem you are facing. The more you have thought about how you are using your trade mark, and the more thorough your records, the easier that gathering helpful evidence of use will be.

Spend a little time now and save yourself a lot more time, and worry, in the future. •

Jonathan is a senior associate and Gillian is an executive at AJ Park. They are both part of the Wellington trade mark team, and can help you protect your brand. Contact our authors on jonathan.aumonier-ward@ajpark.com and gillian.nelson@ajpark.com

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iP is about igniting passion Great ideas shape our world if they are harnessed and protected in the right way. At AJ Park, we work with you to understand your business and where you want to take it. Our experts specialise in helping you identify, protect, commercialise, and manage your intellectual property. If you’re looking for clear IP advice, call us today.

0800 257 275 I www.ajpark.com I New Zealand + Australia

AJ Park is about iP • intellectual property • igniting passion • ideas pervading www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz • 17

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TOMORROW’S ENTREPRENEURS

Young Enterprise Trust Our Next Generation Of Entrepreneurs Terry Shubkin, CEO

AFTER SETTING UP and running a small business for the best part of a year, our Lion Foundation Young Enterprise students are now coming to the end of the programme. Last month I spent two weeks on the road going to events across the country where our regional champions were announced.

It is both inspiring and daunting to see what young people can achieve in such a short space of time; and let’s remember, they are running their small business alongside their regular classroom workload, so they certainly

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aren’t able to focus on the business full time.

Year after year, they amaze us with their commitment: achieving sales goals, breaking even, and in some cases making a modest profit.

All of the regional champions will travel to Wellington in December to pitch in the National Dragon’s Den Final.

One company will be named Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Company of the Year. Feel free to join us if you’d like to be inspired: and perhaps pick up your next recruit as well.

Over 600 small businesses have been formed this year as part of The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme. The year-long programme challenges secondary students to bring a new product or service to market. Here are just a few of the businesses that will compete for the national title in December.

** BEAN

Nelson College (Nelson/Marlborough Regional Champion)

Bean has created a line of natural, ethical skincare products. They began with their Coffee Body Scrub, which is made from fresh and recycled coffee grounds. After much market research, they extended their production into a coffeeinfused moisturiser, and a coconut lip balm.

All the ingredients for their products are fair trade, and products are handmade by the company themselves, which gives their products a point of difference for customers. Their choice of environmentally sustainable ingredients and suppliers reflects one of their key company values, kaitiakitanga.

EFFULGENT

Aparima College (Southland Regional Champion) Effulgent is a YES company, with a focus on environmental sustainability and community.

They produce ‘Seachange’, a liquid seaweed fertiliser which is great for promoting soil health.

Effulgent managed to navigate legislation around sea products and gained permission from local Iwi from the Aparima Oraka Runaka to collect the seaweed for their product.

They used donated bottles to package the fertiliser.

Their environmental values are also reflected in their choice to donate 25 percent of profits to the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust.

They managed to get a lot of local media attention for their innovative product.

www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz • 19

El’Paleo Chocolate

** Sarah Methven, Jessica Vogel, Felicity Siaki and Winnie Edmonds-Hall are four of the six Henderson High School students who have started up El’Paleo (Photo Jessica McQuiod/Western Leader)

EL’PALEO

JUST KIDDING BABYSITTING

Henderson High School (Auckland West Regional Champion)

Waikato Diocesan School for Girls (Waikato-King Country Regional Champion)

After talking to their teacher about how hard people it is for people on the Paleo diet to find chocolate, they set about designing three chocolates which fill the Paleo niche.

Just Kidding Babysitting has come up with a modern, safe way to provide babysitting services to parents with ease.

JKB provides babysitters who are vetted to make sure Their chocolates come in that they are responsible and coconut, orange and mint trustworthy, and also offer to flavours, and are designed to match the right babysitters with also be suitable for people children, specifically to help who can’t eat gluten or dairy, with homework, hobbies like and for people on sugar free musical instruments or sports, or or low sugar diets. to share interests. Parents book El Paleo has also worked hard online to get a babysitter, and pay JBK online in advance to on media coverage, with reduce cash flow problems stories on the Mike Hosking or bad debt problems on Breakfast Show and Tagata Pasifika, and they were invited the night. The company has received great coverage from to sell their products at the the Waikato Times and the Auckland Food Show and Hamilton Food Show.

Waikato Business News.

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*

The team from Tash Gelato: Hutt Valley High School students Lilia Alexander, Kristina Hutley, Dorothy Tanuvasa and Shannon Sologar (Photo Kevin Stent/Fairfax)

TASH GELATO

Hutt Valley High School (Wellington regional champions) Four students from Hutt Valley High School are the Wellington regional champions for 2014. Tash Gelato created a creamy gelato with small pieces of pineapple lumps.

They have partnered with gourmet gelato maker Carrello del Gelato and have sold more than 700 units this year. The team created a website where people could

order the gelato and also promoted the producted via several social media channels.

The National Dragon’s Den Final for The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme will be held on Wednesday 10 December at NZ Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington.

Each regional champion will have five minutes to pitch their business to a panel of judges. The winner will be announced at a gala dinner later that evening. Tickets can be ordered on the Young Enterprise website. •

Would you like to mentor a student company in 2015? Please contact Young Enterprise Trust on 04 570 0452 or email support@youngenterprise.org.nz to volunteer.

www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz • 21

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SPONSORED CONTENT

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IS IT TIME TO RE-THINK WHERE YOU DO BUSINESS FROM? A new place to call home

BY KYLIE HAWKER-GREEN

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 IF YOU’VE BEEN busy developing your big idea, but struggling to turn it into a reality due to potential excessive overhead expenses, then setting up your business in Taupo could be worth considering.

Taupo has a strong and growing economy with low unemployment and a thriving business sector. The region has an abundance of affordable commercial property available for lease or purchase, as well as significant tracts of undeveloped land ideal for those that require a purpose built facility.

One of the main perks of basing your business in Taupo is the affordable operating costs: both rent and wages are lower, and many other business expenses are the same or lower compared to the main centres around New Zealand.

Taupo also offers you and your family the lifestyle you have dreamed of. It has the big city amenities and features without the hassle and stress of big city living; and importantly, an ideal environment to raise a family.

“It is a safe place, with a strong local community and sense of civic pride,” says Kylie HawkerGreen, from Enterprise Great Lake Taupo. “People who live here love living here.”

The Engine Room is a ‘support group’ for entrepreneurs, founded by internationally successful inventor and property developer, Bruce Bartley. “We started the Engine Room specifically to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for entrepreneurs and businesses in the start-up phase,” says Bruce. “We meet monthly over lunch with a guest speaker relevant to the startup process, and encourage members to network together and support each other.”

“The benefits of developing and launching a new idea in a smaller town are immense,” says Bruce. “Commercial rent is more than 50 percent cheaper than in Auckland, for example, and we have a couple of informal incubator style shared spaces that provide an affordable and inspiring environment in which to work.”

www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz • 23



“We are committed to rolling out the red carpet for new businesses in Taupo. We want to prove to business owners who are considering a move here that Taupo is filled with great opportunities for business .”

“We are committed to rolling out the red carpet for new businesses in Taupo,” says Kylie. “We want to prove to business owners who are considering a move here that Taupo is filled with great opportunities for business. So to prove it, we’re encouraging those considering a move to register for a Taupo Tiki Tour. We’ll host you in Taupo for a day, introduce you to property developers and land owners, discuss your requirements, answer any queries you have and connect you with the right people.”

For those who decide to make the move, the ‘Welcome Home to Taupo’ pack provides a $20,000 plus package of benefits for those who are bringing their business to Taupo. The pack includes everything you need to get your business established, such as stationery, signage,

- Kylie Hawker-Green

printing, power, engineering and planning advice; telephone and internet; marketing, advertising; memberships to local groups, and even the Mayor’s cellphone number!

A recent arrival, formerly from Auckland, says living in Taupo is like always being on holiday. “In summer, by 5:30 I’ve finished work, grabbed the family, and we’re out on our boat enjoying a swim and a barbeque. Back in Auckland, we wouldn’t have even got home by then, let alone got the boat on the car.”

“We want our local businesses to not just exist, but to be booming,” says Kylie.

“We have so many strong businesses here that are succeeding at a local, national and international level and we think there are others out there who’d like to do the same.” •

To register for a Taupo Tiki-Tour, or find out more about bringing your business to Taupo, visit: www.greatopportunities.co.nz.

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MIKI SZIKSZAI CEO, SNAPPER

NEW ZEALAND’S SMARTEST BUSINESS PEOPLE ARE SWITCHING TO 2DEGREES. “We were saving between 35% and 40% off our telecommunications bill right off the bat. It also has opened up the opportunity for us to potentially reduce our reliance on landline phones in the office, which we’re now exploring. And again, that will probably take another 20% to 30% off our comms bill.”

MC2527A

To see the full story about Snapper, and hear about other companies who have made the move to 2degrees Business, visit: 2degreesmobile.co.nz/business.

Talk to one of our Business Consultants today and we’ll help drive your business forward.

Call 0800 022 249 or visit 2degreesmobile.co.nz/business www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz • 25

FINANCE

AS YOUR BUSINESS GROWS, SO TOO DOES YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Lisa Martin, Managing Director of specialist bookkeeping and accounting firm, GoFi8ure, says don’t lose sight of your financial obligations

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IN THE BEGINNING:

AS YOU EVOLVE:

When you first start out in business, often it’s just you.

You’re the one up early sketching out business plans, researching distribution channels and working out how to reach your target market.

You’re also the one up late sending out the invoices.

You probably kicked off your venture as self-employed or set up as a limited company, confident that your operation will grow, and that one day, you will need to employ an entire team. For now, all you really have to worry about is keeping things ticking over and paying yourself.

Without doubt you are the Chief Exec, but you’re also in charge of sales, marketing, new business, customer services, accounting and cleaning.

We Kiwis are notorious for our DIY attitude and we really do believe we can do everything ourselves. For many start-ups it’s also a case of ‘needs must’.

Most independent businesses launch on a shoe-string, with limited resources.

If you’ve no financial backing or big brand support, you don’t want to start out with a fancy office, a fleet of cars and staff in place – just in case.

Better, then, that it is just you paying yourself a small wage or taking manageable amounts (drawings) from your business bank account.

Well, have I got news for you? If you really are an entrepreneur – and I know you are – you’ll already know your business’ potential, and soon you’ll start to get impatient.

You’re creative, ingenious, a go-getter: so why would you sit on your laurels when you could be taking on the world?

With your personality, drive and ambition, your sole-trader business isn’t going to stay as a one-man band for long.

When it takes off you’ll be so busy and so immersed that you simply won’t have time to be chief cook and bottle washer.

If you don’t recognise this early on, things will start to slip; and typically, that means the financials, as, for most people,

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As a business owner, and an employer, the buck stops with you.

You have financial responsibilities that you must, by law, fulfill. Dodging them will only come back to bite you on the backside later on. they are the most complex and the least fun. Ironically, it is precisely at the point of business growth that you need to pay extra special attention.

Your financial responsibilities will grow at the same rate as your business and this can catch you unawares.

As you expand and start to employ, so you become financially responsible for other people. Yes, you have to pay them, but you also have to make sure that your PAYE systems are set up correctly to reflect holiday pay, extra hours, sick pay, special leave and fringe benefits. You have to have in place the correct tax rates for each employee and

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make the right deductions: ACC levies, for example.

This all gets pretty complicated – I know because I studied for eight years to learn it all and still take refresher exams every year – and this is why some employers, often new to the game, take the ‘easy’ route and bury their heads in the sand.

I have come across business owners who manage to keep themselves above water by paying their staff regularly, but peep round to their back office and there’s no official PAYE process in place, tax deductions (if paid) are approximations, and provision for sick pay is non-existent.

DON’T GET CAUGHT OUT: You can offer up all the excuses in the world – “I’m a creative”, “I’m not a numbers person”, “I was too busy growing the business”, “I worked 24/7 and just didn’t have the time”, “I didn’t know what to do” – however, none of them will wash.

As a business owner, and an employer, the buck stops with you. You have financial responsibilities that you must,

extreme, but we’ve all heard by law, fulfill. Dodging them will only come back to bite you about companies going into liquidation due to unpaid on the backside later on. taxes: and where does that Without all the behind the leave your employees? scenes admin in place you are in breach of your legal obligations and you will be THINK AHEAD found out. Not only will you The best advice I can give to have to pay penalties but you entrepreneurs is make sure will have to spend time (a you plan for the future. Know valuable commodity, I know) your legal obligations and put reconciling documents from the financials high up on your years back. agenda. If money and tax isn’t What’s more, if you think about it, you are not only responsible for paying wages, tax, ACC and all the rest of it but you are also responsible for paying your staff’s mortgages, their car finance, and for putting food on their table. Your staff rely on you to pay them so that they can then pay and support their families. If you haven’t set up your employment contacts or your PAYE correctly this could put their income in jeopardy. This may sound

your forte, there are plenty of other people who can crunch the numbers for you.

If you are in a mess, or even if you have a slight niggle at the back of your mind that your employment processes might be incorrect, don’t ignore it.

Do the right thing for your business and your staff and get some help now. It may well be a pain to sort everything out but, boy, will it be worth it – and just think about the peace of mind. •

Lisa founded GoFi8ure in 2002, recognising a need for efficient, accurate, mobile and on-site financial administration and accounts management for small businesses operating in the greater Wellington region. She is currently the Vice President of the New Zealand Bookkeepers Association Inc. Contact details: Lisa Martin GoFi8ure 0800 463 488 or Lisa Carruthers Loop PR 021 122 0364

www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz • 29

DIY

5

S L O O T T T U B K C I K E T A R E L E C C TO A G N I T E K R A M R U YO

BY JUSTIN CUNNINGHAM

We reveal five software tools that THE MAJORITY OF New make DIY marketing easier Zealand entrepreneurs are

in small teams (one to three people) and therefore need smart tools that can make their work look professional, but can be used easily and quickly.

We have put together a list of some amazing tools that can accelerate your marketing and promotional efforts whilst still leaving you looking like a million bucks.

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1

Canva Layouts

CANVA Canva was co-founded

by Guy Kawasaki (Venture capitalist, Apple evangelist and founder of Alltop.com).

This amazing software allows people without fancy software to create imagery for flyers, presentations, social media, and any other graphic need you might have.

You can in fact skip the

templates they provide and make your own sized images perfectly for print output or for web. This tool is sweeping the world as it’s so easy to use and makes all your communication and promotional efforts look amazing. Plus, it’s free! If you use their custom images they charge you one dollar US. I personally use this all the time, and it’s a lifesaver.

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2

JING PROJECT Information can get lost in translation when managing projects online. To help keep the conversation to a minimum and to keep your projects moving forward, Jing is a great tool. It’s a screen capture tool that allows you

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to add notes and arrows to indicate feedback on a document or image that is in need of feedback.

Zeald websites in NZ have used this in-house, and for their clients to exchange information on website updates. Again Jing is free.

3

SCREEN FLOW To educate, inform or to create video presentations in the past you would normally need up-spec software like Adobe Premier, which is still the industry standard today. However, if you are on a small budget, Screenflow (mac) by TechSmith is a great little software.

make professional edits and transitions. Its PC equivalent is Camtasia. This is a fantastic tool if you want to do content marketing cheaply. The ability to make sexy titles is a little It allows you to screen-capture limited but overall it’s great. power points or keynotes Screenflow and Camtasia both to video, to insert static images and audio and to cost $99 US.

4

I CAN PRESENT I have just come across this recently and it’s amazing. This software is essentially a video recording, tele prompting, and editing software for $3!

You can write a script on your

phone and then read it off the phone just like a newsreader does whilst it video records you. All you need to do is write the script, set your phone up nice and still on a mount, and find another way of recording good audio and start recording and you will have a professional looking HD video ready to go for your • marketing. This software gets the OMG award.

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5

LEADPAGES I used to have a landing page (web page where your advertising customers land after clicking on your digital promotion) business called Squeez, and we used very nice software called Unbounce, which I loved.

email to it and modify the text, and BAM! you are ready to go.

If you are currently advertising a specific product or service and sending advertisers to your website home page, STOP!

However, I noticed that a lot of other online marketers were using Leadpages, and so after I closed the doors on Squeez, I thought I would This is not best-practice, and will waste your marketing have a look at Leadpages. budget and efforts. Send Immediately, I saw why other people were using it. It’s simple your ads and promotions to a dedicated high-converting to use, and it’s quite simply awesome to set up and launch. landing page that focuses on converting that specific offer.

You just pick a template that has been tested to convert well, Leadpages costs $79 per month change a logo or two, link your for the intermediate offering. • Justin Cunningham is the Editor of NZ Entrepreneur, and speaks on superhero sales and marketing.4

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We’d like to thank you.

BNZ’s proud to be Canstar best small business bank* for the fourth year running.

4971

Talk to us today.

0800 269 763

bnz.co.nz/smallbusiness

*Best Small Business Bank Award independently rated by Canstar 2014.

www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz • 35

PARTING SHOT

“Bethechange youwanttosee intheworld.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

36 • www.nzentrepreneur.co.nz