Employee vs Contractor in New Zealand: The 2026 Test Explained
Since February 2026 NZ has a five-limb gateway test for contractors. What each limb means for a building business and what to put in writing.
Do I Need a Written Contract With a Subcontractor in NZ?
You can subcontract on a handshake. But the 2026 contractor test, the Construction Contracts Act and the retentions rules all assume a written agreement.
Why Bookkeeping Takes Too Long Every Month
Monthly bookkeeping dragging on for days? Here is what actually causes the delay and the fixes that shorten it for good.
How to Stop No-Shows in a Small Service Business (Both Directions)
No-shows run both ways: the customer who is not home and the tradie who does not turn up. Three messages and one policy line cut both.
Cancellation Policy for a Service Business in NZ: What to Put in It
A cancellation policy only works if the customer saw it before booking. What a fair NZ policy says, the Fair Trading Act limits, and the wording.
How Much Should a Call-Out Fee Be in NZ? (And How to Tell Customers)
A call-out fee should recover travel and the first block of time at your real hourly rate. How to set it, and why it must be said before the booking.
How to Set a Tradie Hourly Rate in NZ (The Sum Most People Skip)
Your hourly rate is overheads plus the wage you want, divided by the hours you can actually bill. Why 40 hours is the wrong divisor.
Small Business Systems: Why They Break Down As You Grow
Why small business systems that worked fine solo start failing once you add staff or clients, and how to tell a real system from a habit.
Hazard Register for a Small Business in NZ: How to Set One Up
A hazard register is one table: hazard, who it could harm, how bad, the control, who owns it. How to build one for a trade business and keep it alive.
Why Contractors Take Too Long to Respond to Enquiries
A practical look at why response times blow out in small construction businesses and what it actually costs in lost jobs and repeat work.
