Sidekick Selwyn

21/10/2026

If cashflow’s like toilet paper, what happens if you have more than you actually need?

If your business has more cash than it needs to operate comfortably, it’s worth asking whether that money could be working harder for you.

Here’s Keighley from Sidekick Wānaka with some suggestions:
• Invest it.
• Put it towards something the business actually needs.
• Pay down debt.
• Pay yourself or your team more
• Put it to work outside the business.

The right answer depends on your goals, your business and your bigger financial picture.

And this is where it’s worth talking to a financial advisor. If you don't have one, talk to us.

We can connect you with the people we work with, and help you put a cashflow strategy in place to support that plan.

Too much cash isn't a bad problem to have. But it is a problem worth solving.

16/10/2026

We spend a big chunk of our lives at work, so it’d be pretty rubbish if you didn’t feel like you belonged there.

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and this year’s theme is ‘belonging matters’.

Belonging comes from connection… and that just happens to be one of our brand values.

So here’s a taste of how we connect across our group and within our local teams.

From our annual conference, Sidekick Squads and director catch-ups to office outings, industry events, sports, birthdays and morning teas… We make time to connect, celebrate wins and get to know each other beyond the day job.

Because People Driven Accounting starts with our own people.

And when people feel like they belong, their mental health improves, they’re more likely to stick around, work well together and genuinely care about the people they work with.

Business owners, you don’t need a special week to check in with your team. But if it’s been a while, make today the day.

05/10/2026

Who can benefit from tax pooling?
Short answer: pretty much everyone.

Whether you’re looking to reduce the cost of paying tax late, or just want more flexibility around when and how you pay your tax, tax pooling can be a useful tool for managing your business cashflow.

Sidekick CEO Ric caught up with Harry from TMNZ to dig into how it works, who can use it and where it could fit into your tax strategy.

Watch the full conversation with TMNZ here: https://youtu.be/_nkKYKnZr-U

If you’re interested in learning more about tax pooling and how it could work for your business, reach out to Ben or Ali, we'd love to help. Give us a call, or send us a DM.

30/09/2026

Please join us in welcoming Sidekick Flintoffs, Invercargill to our Sidekick family.

Flintoffs has been part of the Southland business community since 1994, and we’re stoked to have Jo Thomson, Jackie Palmer and their team joining the Sidekick family.

They’re still proudly local, still independently owned and operated, and now have the backing of the Sidekick group behind them.

Welcome to the group, Sidekick Flintoffs.

Read the full story and watch our interview with Jo and Jackie. 👇

Sidekick is growing and is now in Southland. Welcome to Sidekick Flintoffs, with Jo Thomson and Jackie Palmer joining Sidekick.

22/09/2026

Have you received this letter? IRD is cracking down on PAYE payments, so this one’s worth checking.

Employers whose annual PAYE and ESCT is $500,000 or more, are being sent letters reminding them that PAYE needs to be paid twice a month from 1 October 2026.

This rule isn't new, but IRD is cracking down on compliance, so now’s a good time to make sure your payroll and payment process are set up correctly.

We've broken down who this affects, the payment dates and what you need to do in our latest blog.

If your business is over the $500K threshold, have a read and talk to us if you're unsure what you need to change.

Read the blog here:

If your annual PAYE and ESCT is $500,000 or more, you need to pay PAYE twice a month. Here's what NZ businesses need to know from 1 October 2026.

17/09/2026

If you're using a standard markup across your products & services, you might be making less than you think.

Markup and margin aren't the same thing, and getting them confused can have a serious impact on your profit.

Here’s Ali, an advisor right here in Selwyn (and a dedicated Metallica fan 🤘🏽), to explain the difference.

We've also put together a free Markup vs Margin Calculator so you can plug in your purchase price, adjust the markup and see exactly what margin you're actually making.

Have a play with it, then if you're ready to define your numbers further, talk to your Sidekick advisor about building a pricing strategy that works for your business and the lifestyle you want from it.

Try the free calculator here: https://www.sidekickca.co.nz/markup-vs-margin/

10/09/2026

Xero is putting its prices up from 1 October 2026, so this is the perfect time to check that you’re getting the most value from it.

The new standard monthly prices excluding GST are:
• Ignite: $37
• Grow: $89
• Comprehensive: $117
• Ultimate: $135

There are plenty of features and automations that can save you time and your Xero work harder for you.

We can help you identify where you could automate some of the repetitive stuff you're still doing manually.

And while you're reviewing your Xero use, it's not a bad time to look at your own pricing too.

When did you last check whether your prices still cover your costs, give you the margin you need and reflect the value you're providing?

We've covered the Xero price increase, getting more from Xero and reviewing your own pricing in our latest blog.

Take a look ⬇️

Xero prices are increasing from 1 October 2026. See the new NZ prices and find out how to get more value from Xero with automations and Sidekick support.

08/09/2026

What an incredible result for Hayden Paddon and John Kennard!

Second overall at WRC Rally Paraguay, back on the world stage and taking on the very best. An outstanding achievement.

Even more remarkable, it comes 10 years after Hayden and John made history by winning Rally Argentina in 2016, becoming the first Kiwi crew to win a WRC event.

That says a lot about Hayden’s tenacity, ability and determination to keep competing at the highest level.

Many in the Sidekick community will know Hayden well, particularly clients from our Wanaka, Rangiora and Timaru offices, where he has shared his story and experiences with us.

One of the things we love about what we do is getting to celebrate the people we work alongside, and seeing them be more successful in their own fields. Hayden’s latest result is a pretty great example of that.

We’re proud to get behind great Kiwis like Hayden and celebrate their successes along the way. Read more

Congratulations Hayden and John. What a result.

Read the full story

Close, but not close enough for Hayden Paddon in the WRC Rally de Paraguay as Finland's Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen made FIA World Rally Championship history as they claimed their first three WRC wins have come consecutively.

03/09/2026

The OCR has moved. Here’s what it could mean for your business.
Yesterday the Reserve Bank increased the Official Cash Rate (OCR) from 2.5% to 2.75%.

Richard has broken down what that could mean for your business in this reel.

The bigger question for business owners is what you do with the change.

You can’t control the OCR, but you can control how prepared your business is for changes in the cost of capital.

That means understanding your profitability, cashflow, debt and what different interest rate scenarios could mean for your bottom line.

It’s also a good excuse to celebrate 8 years of Richard at Sidekick today. Richard, spent years in banking prior to joining the Sidekick family, and is one of the resident banking specialists in our group who we can call on when we need advice.

If you’re keen to look at an interest rate strategy for your business, get in touch. We’d love to help.