FAQs
Do you have questions? We’ve got answers! Explore our FAQs to learn more about how Zesty can support your business.
Your questions, answered
We know that choosing the right support for your business is a big decision, and you might have a few questions before getting started. That’s why we’ve compiled this handy FAQ page to answer the most common queries we receive. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to get in touch – we’re here to help!
General Questions
A Virtual Assistant can take care of a wide range of tasks, including admin, bookkeeping, payroll, CRM setup, social media, and more. At Zesty, we customise our services to fit your business needs, whether it’s tidying up your books, managing ongoing admin, or creating systems to streamline your processes.
If you’re not sure what to delegate, we’ll help you figure it out during our discovery call.
Heidi and her team bring decades of experience and a proven track record of helping businesses get organised and succeed. We operate with professionalism, confidentiality, and a commitment to creating solutions that truly work for your business.
We don’t just “do tasks” – we work as a trusted partner in your business. Whether it’s bookkeeping, payroll, admin, or strategy, we customise our services to suit your specific needs. It’s about giving you back time, clarity, and peace of mind.
Zesty works with businesses across a variety of industries, from solo entrepreneurs to small teams. Whether you’re in retail, trades, services, or something in between, we adapt to meet your unique needs.
Book a free discovery call! This is your chance to chat about your challenges, goals, and expectations. We’ll be upfront about how we can help and will always let you know if we’re not the right fit.
Absolutely. If you need help implementing a tool or integrating it into your systems, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
We start with a discovery call to understand your specific challenges, goals, and business needs. From there, we create customised strategies that align with your vision and the stage your business is in.
We work with small to medium-sized businesses across all industries, particularly those ready to grow or seeking clarity in their next steps. Whether you’re solo or leading a small team, our mentoring is designed to support you.
No, the discovery call is completely free. It’s simply an opportunity for us to understand your needs and for you to see if we’re the right fit for your business.
Our terms and conditions are outlined here: zestyva.co.nz/terms
Yes!
It actually doesn’t matter where in New Zealand your business is based (even if you’re running it from overseas), we have plenty of options for working together.
If we need to process hard-copy (invoices or receipts) we can courier them, or we can look at other options from scanning or taking photos on your phone, or we can create a QR code which links to a google form enabling you or your team to easily upload photos of the hard copy items.
There are plenty of ways we can work together, and we’re looking forward to doing so! We currently have clients in Auckland, Waikato, New Plymouth, Nelson, Melbourne and Sydney, and of course Lower Hutt and Wellington.
The reality is, it’s hard to set up your business properly if you don’t have one, so the answer is yes.
The next question is What is your Gmail used for?
Verifying your business on Google Business and Google Maps. This is essential as Google Business has taken over from the old Yellow Pages. This is now the most used business directory.
Signing into tools and services; anywhere that has a google sign in. Using a google sign in wherever possible helps to keep your passwords under control and keeps everything secure. It also keeps it separate from your personal profiles, helping to control your data.
Linking all the separate pieces of your website and your entire business together.
It allows us to work with you through a shared workspace. Using Chrome, we can all sign into the same space, allowing us to use the services you need and keep everything nice and tidy for you. No more sharing passwords and details.
If you’d rather not share this gmail, we can create a separate administrative email.
One of the biggest lessons I learnt was when we needed to close our business down, I still needed to communicate with the insurance company and a few of our suppliers. Our main email address was closed with our website, and so it fell to the gmail account to do the heavy lifting. I was grateful to have this secondary account to link everything together.
Business Mentoring Questions
Our mentoring combines strategy, coaching, and consulting to offer a mix of guidance and actionable solutions. We don’t just give you advice – we work alongside you to create a plan and help you implement it.
We start with a discovery call to understand your specific challenges, goals, and business needs. From there, we create customised strategies that align with your vision and the stage your business is in.
We work with small to medium-sized businesses across all industries, particularly those ready to grow or seeking clarity in their next steps. Whether you’re solo or leading a small team, our mentoring is designed to support you.
This depends on your goals and challenges. Some clients work with us on a one-off basis to solve a specific issue, while others choose ongoing mentoring for continuous guidance and growth.
Zesty Team Questions
Our team has over 20 years of combined experience across a variety of industries. From bookkeeping, payroll, admin and CRM management, to social media, web design, website development, and business strategy, each team member brings specialised expertise to support your business.
Yes! We assign team members based on your specific needs, so you’ll always work with someone who understands your business inside and out. However, as part of a team, we also ensure there’s always backup support available if needed.
We adapt to what works best for you! Whether it’s email, Zoom, phone calls, or task management tools, we’ll ensure communication is seamless and keeps your business running smoothly.
Absolutely. We take privacy and confidentiality seriously. Our team works with secure systems and maintains strict confidentiality standards, ensuring your sensitive information is safe and protected.
We pride ourselves on taking the time to truly get to know our clients. During the onboarding process, we’ll deep-dive into your business, systems, and goals, ensuring we provide tailored support that feels like we’re part of your team.
Zesty Business Essentials Questions
Bookkeeping
We are experienced in using systems like Xero for bookkeeping, as well as a variety of payroll platforms. If you’re ready to move to Xero, we can help set you up with the best tools for your business.
We handle everything from reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable, GST returns, and helping you understand your numbers.
We stay up to date with NZ financial and employment laws to ensure your business meets all requirements. From GST filing to IRD Payday Filing compliance, we’ll make sure everything is done correctly and on time.
Yes! You’ll work directly with a dedicated team member who understands your business. We’re also a collaborative team, so you’ll always have backup support when needed.
Absolutely. Our onboarding process includes tidying up and organising your books, so we can start with a clean slate.
Payroll
We manage employee setups, regular pay runs, leave tracking, KiwiSaver contributions, and tax filings – all fully compliant with NZ law.
We currently work with Smartly Payroll, Employment Hero, Pay Hero, and Thankyou Payroll. If you’re using a different payroll software, we’re happy to learn and adapt to your system.
Yes, if your current payroll system isn’t meeting your businesses needs, then we can help you move to one which is better suited. Different payroll software meets different business’s needs and it’s imperative that we choose the right software for your business. Some are better at salaried employees, and some a better at managing wages with overtime and contractors. Have a chat and we’ll help you make a path forward.
Yes! Whether you have one employee or a larger team, we customise our payroll services to suit your needs.
Absolutely. We keep up with NZ employment laws and ensure your payroll processes meet all legal requirements.
Yes, we can handle bonuses, overtime, and other irregular payments, ensuring everything is calculated correctly.
Office Support
We handle scheduling, email management, data entry, invoicing, travel arrangements, and much more.
Yes, we’re happy to assist with one-off admin tasks or ongoing support – whatever your business needs.
Yes, you’ll have a dedicated team member working with you while benefiting from the support of the entire Zesty team.
We’re experienced with a variety of tools, including Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and CRM systems like GoHighLevel.
Zesty Creative Questions
Website Creation
Our timelines vary depending on the package and complexity of your site, but most websites are completed within 6-8 weeks from the start of the project.
Absolutely! We can create engaging copy for your site and source high-quality images if needed – or work with what you provide.
Yes, all of our websites are fully responsive, meaning they’ll look great and function seamlessly on any device.
We primarily use WordPress for its flexibility and scalability but can work with other platforms if required.
Why WordPress? While other platforms might seem attractive with lower entry fees, those costs often climb quickly as you start adding features like e-commerce, payment gateways, booking systems, or additional users. The more you need, the higher your monthly costs become. Plus, these platforms can lock you into their ecosystem, making it difficult (and often expensive) to move your website elsewhere if you decide to switch. I’ve even heard designers compare them to “digital traps” – tempting you with low upfront fees, only to tie you into ongoing costs and limitations.
With WordPress and its e-commerce add-on WooCommerce, you avoid those restrictions. WordPress is an open-source platform, meaning the software itself is free to use, robust, and constantly updated by a global community of developers. This translates to a highly secure and flexible platform. As long as your site is maintained and plugins come from reputable sources, your website will remain secure and functional. Think of it like putting on your seatbelt – with regular updates and good practices, your site is protected from potential risks.
But here’s where WordPress really stands out: scale and transparency. WordPress powers about 43.5% of the internet, which means there’s an immense community constantly improving and safeguarding its code. If a vulnerability is found, it’s identified and fixed rapidly, with updates often rolled out within hours. Compare that to private platforms, which may have fewer resources, slower fixes, and varying levels of transparency about security breaches. With WordPress, I can confidently say that you have control over your site’s safety and functionality, without being at the mercy of a platform’s priorities or profit margins.
Kadence is a powerful toolkit that enhances the way WordPress works, giving you more flexibility and functionality without compromising speed or simplicity.
Here’s how it works: WordPress uses a system called Gutenberg blocks, where you add “blocks” like headings, text, images, or other elements to build a page – think of it as a digital version of Publisher. Kadence adds an extra layer of functionality with its advanced blocks and plugins, designed to enhance (not replace) Gutenberg. This makes creating pages faster, easier, and an all-around smoother experience. Plus, because Kadence is lightweight, your site stays speedy and efficient.
Kadence also offers professionally designed templates that help speed up the design process. These templates provide a solid starting point for your website, showcasing the latest design trends and Kadence features. Think of it like having a blueprint to guide your project – it’s so much easier to create something beautiful when you have a clear starting point!
At Zesty, we hold a developer licence for Kadence. This allows us to provide you with access to premium Kadence products as part of your website build. With Kadence and our expertise, we create stunning, professional websites that are not only user-friendly but also designed to delight your customers.
We prioritise using web hosting providers based in New Zealand and Australia to ensure the best performance, reliability, and support for our clients. Here’s why it matters:
- Faster website speeds: Hosting your website closer to your target audience significantly improves loading times. Faster websites not only enhance the user experience but also contribute to better SEO rankings.
- Data security and compliance: Local hosting ensures your website data is stored within NZ or Australian servers, adhering to regional privacy laws and regulations. This gives you peace of mind knowing your data is secure and compliant.
- Personalised support: Local hosting providers understand the unique needs of businesses in NZ and Australia. Should an issue arise, you’ll benefit from prompt, personalised support in your time zone.
- Reduced latency: With servers geographically closer to your audience, latency (the delay in transferring data) is reduced. This is especially important for websites with high traffic or complex functionality.
By hosting locally, we ensure your website delivers top-notch performance and provides a seamless experience for your customers, all while supporting regional businesses.
Yes, we offer ongoing maintenance packages to keep your site updated, secure, and running smoothly after launch.
Social Media
Given the unique nature of your business, your social media package will be different to the next persons. After we’ve had a chat, we can discuss your budget and what approach will suit your business and your audience best.
We work with you to understand your brand, audience, and goals. From there, we create a tailored content strategy to ensure every post aligns with your business objectives.
We work with all major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Let us know which platforms are key for your business, and we’ll focus our efforts there.
Publer is our recommended social media scheduling tool which we can post to all your social media platforms with ease, as well as track analytics and more. You can check it out here for free: https://go.zestyva.co.nz/Publer
We partner with Kristine L’Estrange Digital Marketing for paid social media campaigns. Krissy can manage everything from ad creation to targeting and optimisation to ensure you get the best results from your investment.
Digital Audits
Our audit reviews key areas of your digital presence, including your website, social media platforms, email marketing, SEO, and overall branding. We assess performance and provide recommendations tailored to your goals.
A Digital Audit is perfect for businesses that want to understand how they’re performing online and where they can improve. Whether you’re new to digital or have been online for years, we’ll meet you where you are.
Most audits are completed within 1–2 weeks, depending on the size and scope of your digital presence.
Absolutely! Once the audit is complete, we can work with you to execute the plan, whether that’s improving your website, managing social media, or launching email campaigns.
Email Marketing
We handle everything from newsletters and promotional campaigns, to creating automated sequences like welcome emails and abandoned cart reminders.
Yes! We’ll craft engaging, on-brand copy that resonates with your audience and drives action.
Absolutely. We can create strategies to help you attract more subscribers, such as lead magnets, sign-up forms, and pop-ups that convert.
We work with popular email platforms such as GoHighLevel, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Klaviyo, and more – let us know what you’re using, and we’ll adapt.
Let’s work together
Ready to lighten your workload and take your business to the next level?
Whether you need bookkeeping, payroll, admin support, business mentoring, strategic guidance, or creative services like website creation, social media management, and email marketing, the Zesty team is here to help.
Book your free discovery call today, and let’s chat about how we can support your business and help it thrive.