Jeremy Tauri: Good time for an office cleanse

Time to declutter your desk.

The beginning of the year is a good time to pick up on some of the things on the to-do list that you possibly didn't feel like doing before the break.

These are the things you keep thinking you'll get around to but they always take a back seat during the year because, well, you're just too busy.

But now you're back, refreshed, and revitalised, a little housekeeping will get you off to a good start in 2015.

DECLUTTER YOUR OFFICE SPACE

Hoarding old invoices, bank statements and receipts but not sure why? Is there a business plan somewhere in that corner pile? The new year is the time to get unwanted paper to the document destruction bin.

You'll feel better with the extra space. But make sure that you keep records that are within the IRD's seven-year limit.

PREVENT CLUTTER AND MOVE TO THE CLOUD

So you've won the paper battle, to win the war make a move to storing your documents and receipts online. Applications such as Xero, Dropbox and Google Docs all have the ability to store information via the internet to prevent it cluttering office space. Smartphones can take pictures and scan receipts but you may want to invest in a scanner to handle letters and speed up the process.

A young person from your local school may be interested in a job doing this for you a few hours a week. You'll be surprised at how much space you can free up by moving to a paperless office -- I know of one business that was able to create room for another employee by moving their storage to the cloud.

REVIEW YOUR LIFE INSURANCE

This doesn't just apply to reviewing the price. Make sure your cover is appropriate and matches your circumstances or any change in circumstances that might have occurred throughout the year.

Online, there are comparison sites which allow you to compare insurances, or you can contact an adviser to talk you through the options.

Be thorough with your insurances -- they're more complicated for those who are in business or self-employed. Think about who should own the policies, the exclusions and the benefits offered.

Insurances certainly count when and if you need them and you'll feel better knowing you're appropriately covered.

COMMIT TO SUPPORT A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

Your skills as a business owner are widely sought by clients and customers. Local organisations and initiatives will also welcome your skills and networks.

How can you make a difference to the future of your area? This gives you an opportunity to share your views about the future of your community and can also be a great networking opportunity.

Jeremy Tauri is an associate at Plus Chartered Accountants