Imagine you just bought a second-hand bike. It’s a bit rusty, the tyres are flat, and the brakes don’t work. Before you can ride it to school, you need to fix it up. Now, let’s pretend you’re running a business, and instead of a bike, you bought a big machine, a building, or even a rental house. You spend money fixing it so you can use it for your business. The big question is: Can you claim those repair costs as a tax deduction?

Cash flow is often described as the lifeblood of a business - and for good reason. Without steady cash coming in, even profitable companies can find themselves struggling to pay bills, staff, or suppliers. For small and medium businesses in New Zealand, managing cash flow well isn’t just about survival - it’s about creating stability, growth, and peace of mind.