Cash flow forecasting and business advisory for Auckland business owners — our flagship service
Most businesses that fail are not short of profit — they are short of cash on a particular day. A cash flow forecast puts the next twelve months of money in and money out on one page, so you see the tight month before it arrives. This is the service we are proudest of, delivered in English or Mandarin by Ted Liang, Chartered Accountant (CA ANZ).
✅ CA ANZ full member ✅ North Shore local ✅ 5 years in practice ✅ Around 150 businesses served ✅ 中文 · English
"The business is profitable on paper, but every time a tax bill and wages land in the same week I'm scrambling."
"I want to buy another van / open a second shop / hire someone, and I don't know whether I can afford it."
"My accountant only tells me what happened last year. I need to know what happens next month."
How we help
12-month cash flow forecast — Built from your Xero data: expected sales, supplier payments, wages, rent, loan repayments, GST and income tax dates, all laid out month by month so the gaps show up early. Updated as the real numbers come in.
Tax and large-payment early warning — Provisional tax, GST, terminal tax and any big one-off bills are placed on the calendar months ahead, so the cash is set aside instead of found at the last minute.
Decision support — Before you take on a lease, buy equipment, hire, or approach the bank, we model what it does to your cash and give you numbers you can show a lender.
Regular check-ins — A short monthly or quarterly review of actual versus forecast, in plain language, so you always know where the business stands.
Why us
Genuinely bilingual — the forecast walked through in Mandarin or English, whichever you make decisions in. Fixed, transparent fees — a written fixed fee for the forecast and the check-ins, agreed before we start. Local, and we know owner-operated business — five years on the North Shore, around 150 businesses served: construction, trades, hospitality, trading and import/export. Digital, on Xero — the forecast is built from live bank-fed data, not a spreadsheet typed up once a year.
Transparent pricing
Cash flow forecasting and business advisory — Fee (excluding GST): quoted per business after the free consultation
Company or trust — annual accounts + tax return — Fee (excluding GST): from $900 +GST
GST return — Fee (excluding GST): from $110 per period +GST
Personal income tax return — Fee (excluding GST): from $700 +GST
*Transparent pricing, no hidden fees — leave your details below for an accurate quote for your situation.*
What clients say
"They are an excellent finance team! Easy to communicate with! They always resolved my financial problems meticulously, patiently, and promptly. Thank you!"
— Claire (Google review)
"Excellent service, professional advice was given and helped me a lot. Thank you so much!"
— Barron Miller (Google Local Guide)
"Friendly staff, very helpful. Definitely recommend to others."
— li wendy (Google review)
Rated 5.0 on Google.
Leave your details — we'll contact you within 1 working day
Optimal Accountants Limited · Level 3, Candida Building, 4/61 Constellation Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632 (North Shore) Phone 021 202 4028 · Email info@optimalaccountants.co.nz
Let's talk for 15 minutes and see what hassle we can take off your plate — no charge, no sales pitch, no pressure.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cash flow forecast and why does a small business need one? A cash flow forecast is a month-by-month plan of the cash expected to come in and go out over the next twelve months. Profit tells you whether the business works; cash flow tells you whether you can pay wages, suppliers and IRD on the day they are due. Small businesses mostly run into trouble on cash, not profit.
How much does cash flow forecasting cost? It is quoted per business after the free 15-minute consultation, because the work depends on how many revenue streams, staff and loans you have. Like every Optimal Accountants service the fee is fixed and confirmed in writing before we start, and it can be bundled with your annual accounts from $900 +GST.
Do I need to be on Xero for a cash flow forecast? It is the fastest route, because the forecast starts from live bank-fed data and is easy to update each month. If you are not on Xero yet, we can set it up as part of the engagement, or build the first forecast from your bank statements and invoices while the move happens.
Can a cash flow forecast help me get a bank loan? Banks lending to a small business usually want to see that the repayments fit within projected cash, not just that last year was profitable. A forecast prepared by a Chartered Accountant gives the lender that picture. We prepare the forecast and can talk it through with your banker if you want us to.
How often should the forecast be updated? Monthly is ideal for businesses with wages and stock; quarterly works for simpler businesses. Each update replaces the forecast figures with actual results and rolls the view forward, so the picture twelve months out stays realistic. We agree the rhythm with you at the start.