new business venture – Terrace Consulting

Leaving a secure day job

February 17, 2016 by Judy

Just over 14 years ago I left my secure day job with a growing consultancy firm and started Terrace Consulting Ltd. Five years before that I left my very secure public sector job as Information Services Manager (now called Chief Information Officer) to go into consultancy. What a ride.

Since 2002 I’ve undertaken a number of roles with a variety of organisations – from large public sector agencies to one person businesses – and a whole lot in between.

My focus has remained the same throughout – making information readily available to those who need it.

A structured electronic filing environment or a random Google-type search process

July 6, 2015October 28, 2015 by Judy

A structured electronic filing environment works better than having a ‘bucket’ of items that you search right through to find the item you want

What does this mean and what is the difference?

Business fundamentals

May 28, 2015October 28, 2015 by Judy

Being able to find information you need when you need it is fundamental to the way you manage your business.

It doesn’t matter what your business does – whether you’re making pies, children’s’ clothes, iron gates or if you provide

End-of-year tax advice

March 14, 2015October 28, 2015 by Judy

I’ve researched tax information in various countries to offer you the following links to help you to prepare your records so your accountant can prepare your annual accounts in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

Give your business a flying filing start in 2015

February 11, 2015February 13, 2016 by Judy

Have you experienced one or more of these situations?

♦ Wasted time looking for information that you have filed “somewhere”?
♦ Got frustrated when you can’t find a paper or email that you know “is there somewhere”?
♦ Had to pay tax penalties because your missed a deadline due to inefficient business processes?

Cost-effective administrative support for small businesses

February 6, 2015February 13, 2016 by Judy

Did you read Lisa Martin’s story in the DominionPost recently? Her business GoFi8ure provides everyday bookkeeping and accounting support to small businesses before they get to the point of needing a full time office manager. GoFi8ure provides bookkeeping and other administrative services to free up small business owners to do what they do best – run the business.

Communication is almost more important than cashflow

December 23, 2014February 13, 2016 by Judy

To those of you still at work this week, I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy thriving business in 2015. For those already on holiday and reading this in January my wishes for you in 2015 are the same.

To help you get thinking about how you will have a successful 2015, I want to share some thoughts on communication. I’ve had three interesting experiences recently that are top of mind right now.

Hard lesson in how not to run a company

October 24, 2014February 13, 2016 by Judy

Reports this week from the legal judgment on the failure of South Canterbury Finance (SCF) show how a big company that arose out of a small family business failed in part because the systems and processes in place didn’t work for a large financial company.

Brian Gaynor writing in the New Zealand Herald calls it “Hard lesson in how not to run a company”

Small business challenges in Ireland and New Zealand

October 10, 2014February 13, 2016 by Judy

I’ve been in Dublin recently with my daughter and her family. It was a busy time with her young children and chef/restauranteur husband but lots of fun and very different from life at home in New Zealand where I live with my husband and a cat!

What I found interesting was the similarities between Ireland and New Zealand. I’ve always been aware of the similar

Ticking all the boxes

May 8, 2014 by Judy

If you’re responsible for managing risk, improving productivity, increasing profits in your business then I have a solution that ticks all these boxes. Yet it’s not a solution that will be front of mind when you’re thinking of these things.

I’m talking about a filing system so you can keep track of the information you need to run your business efficiently.

If you’re scratching your head wondering what I’m on about then read on. Here are some examples of how a good filing system will tick your boxes.

Managing Risk	You know you can rely on the information you are using to make business decisions. You know you have the latest financial report, the most recent price list from your suppliers.You maintain your good business reputation because clients and suppliers know they can rely on the information you give them.

Improving productivity	You don’t waste time searching for reports or tender documents; then when you don’t find what you want you recreate it. Your key information is easy to find when you need it.

Increasing profits	Good business decisions plus less wasted time = Improved productivity = more revenue = bigger profits. It’s that simple!

How many of these boxes can you tick?