Getting Ready for 2026

Getting ready for 2026 is a great way to spend quieter moments during Advent, and nothing says Christmas quite like strategic business planning.

I’ve put together 24 small but meaningful ways to get ready — one for each day — to send you into the New Year with clarity, purpose and perhaps even some calm.

1 - Plan Your Personal Development

As we progress through our careers, our studies start to feel like distant memories.

But it’s never too late to learn new skills (beyond CPD) that can enhance your abilities both inside and outside of work.

And if you’re struggling to lift yourself out of the fog, hook up with a decent local mentoring scheme so you can

identify those aspirations.

2 - The Suppliers

Making savings in your cost base is just as important as securing a new sale.

Have a look at where you’re spending your money. Ask yourself: is this outlay necessary? If it is, am I getting value, and am I getting a return on this investment?

Start having those conversations and you’ll see those margins improve.

3 - Systemize Your Downtime

You don’t need me to tell you the positive impact that time away from your workspace has on productivity and wellbeing.

Block out your calendar. Diarise your lunchtimes, your walk with a mate, or your trip to the post office.

Set up recurring tasks and appointments in your calendar for the new year.

4 - Your Environment

Have a look at your workspace. Does it calm you? Does it focus you? Does it inspire you?

Or are you surrounded by old coffee cups and ironing?

Spend half an hour freshening up your surroundings. Next-year-you will definitely be thankful.

5 - Stick to the Knitting

You may have a business that offers multiple products and services.

Some will generate profit and be something you can deliver with confidence and with energy to spare. Some may be loss-making, a bit fiddly and, generally speaking, a right nause.

My university professors used to bandy around a term: “stick to the knitting”. It basically means stop faffing — do what you do best. Have a look at your offerings and get simplifying.

6 - Lean in

We can all become disillusioned with work at times — often because we don’t make the most of our circumstances.

Ask yourself: what are the specific benefits of my role? Is it spending time with colleagues or clients? Is it flexible hours, location, autonomy?

For example, if you have the freedom to work whatever hours you choose, lean into that flexibility and enjoy the liberty your role offers.

7 - Your Customer Journey

You already deliver a good product — otherwise you wouldn’t still be trading.

But think about how you can make the customer experience even better.

Could you make small improvements to onboarding or exit processes, communication, or transparency? Or little things like the odd gift or a spontaneous check-in to see how someone’s doing. This is the stuff people remember.

8 - Zero in on the USP

What is it that you bring to your customers that is unique to you? Your specific skills, approach, perspectives.

I’m sure you’re in a competitive industry, but take on your competitors by doubling down on your attributes and letting them become your USP.

Let your USP guide everything from your messaging to the way you deliver your work.

9 - BS

There’s every chance I’ve bent your ear about this in the past. Look at your Balance Sheet — it shows how healthy you are.

Put down your Profit and Loss account for now, and spend some time comparing what the company owns (cash, stock, what customers owe you) versus what it owes (tax bills, loans, what you owe suppliers).

This is a much better barometer of financial health and, broadly speaking, if what you own is more than what you owe, you’re in good nick for next year.

10 - Revisit Your “Why”

When we’re scrapping away day-to-day, we can lose sight of why we decided to do this in the first place.

You may have a cringeworthy business plan or resignation letter buried away somewhere. Use it to remind yourself what the “pulls and pushes” were when you first set out.

I had a flick through mine the other day — it’s an embarrassment. But while this naïve, buzzword-ridden nonsense will never again see the light of day, it was a ponderous read.

11 - Forecast Like You Mean It

Have a go at sketching out what 2026 might look like.

There’s plenty of data available to help you predict how the year might pan out. Start by drilling into 2025: identify seasonal trends and customer behaviours.

It doesn’t need to be perfect, but it will put you on the front foot as the year unfolds.

12 - Terry Tibbs

Talk to me. Tell me.

If there’s something you think I can help with — no matter how small or trivial — my calendar is yours to use and you don’t need to ask first.

There’s a link on the website and at the bottom of my emails, and invites will be sent soon for you to book in your end-of-tax-year reviews. Start scheduling.

13 - Get Your Cash Working

Having excess liquidity is admittedly a champagne problem. However, if you’re a Cautious Colin sitting on your cash, try to get that resource working for you a little bit.

Organise your funds into tranches based on how quickly you need to access them.

Allow yourself a 2026 operating fund, put aside your liabilities and a modest reserve, and anything else can go into notice accounts, fixed-term deposits, pensions or investments.

14 - Have a Look at Your Pensions

Talking of pensions — maybe now is the time to port that old workplace pension earning 0.2% off Kodak.

Pensions can be complicated things, but spend some time getting your retirement pot earning. Perhaps employ the use of a trusted broker and find a suitable receptacle for your 2026 contributions.

You’ll definitely thank yourself when the time comes to hang up your boots.

15 - Simplify Something

You need systems to make your life easier.

Systems make us more consistent and efficient, and they reduce error.

Ask yourself: what is one thing I do every day that I could do better tomorrow?

16 - Review Your Counterparties

Think about the people you work with — customers, suppliers, affiliates.

Who energises you? Who drains you?

You don’t need to wield the axe just yet, but ask what steps you can take to surround yourself with people who complement what you do and who you are.

17 - Check Your Insurances

A bit boring, but really important. Imagine going into the new year knowing that your policies are watertight and cover every area of risk you face.

Look at your professional indemnity, cyber risk, employee and public liability. Check your medical cover, income protection or life assurance.

It’ll be a tough afternoon, but by George you’ll feel smug at the end of it.

18 - Sharpen Your Numbers Habit

As your accountant, I can’t advocate this enough. It’s no surprise that the most successful businesses coming through this practice aren’t necessarily those super-skilled at finance — but those with good financial processes in place.

Get your task manager fired up and schedule a “month-end” process where you review invoices, bills, profit, cash — whatever. Make some financial projections for the month ahead.

When your numbers are clear, decision-making improves, profitability improves, financial health improves — and frankly, your stress levels improve.

19 - Mindful Withdrawals

Not necessarily more, not necessarily less — just pay yourself mindfully.

Get a handle on what is affordable for your business, remembering to set aside your bills and a buffer, and pay yourself that amount at fixed intervals through the year.

And you never know — there might be a cheeky bonus available come year-end.

20 - Refresh Your Online Presence

Is your website starting to look a little tired? Is your elevator pitch something you wrote in year one and now sounds rather naff? Are your profile pictures three or four wrinkles out of date?

Spend half a day looking at your X, Instagram, Google, Facebook and LinkedIn profiles and align them with who you are today.

You’ll feel like a new person.

21 - Say Thank You

Do something nice to acknowledge that your customers have a choice — and they chose you.

Send them a message or a card in the post.

Be proud of your business and what you’ve achieved, but also be humble that there may be people who have supported you along the way.

22 - Credit Control Review

You'll be pirouetting like Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music if you can check this one off.

Have a look at your invoicing and debt collection processes. What are your customers like at paying the right amount and on time. Are there any overdue balances you can chase before year-end? Could you tighten up your wording, your reminder processes, or could you even get a factoring company involved?

Efficient credit control improves cash flow and reduces unnecessary stress.

23 - Choose a new habit

Pick one small habit that would make your day-to-day feel smoother.

A common one is managing your emails - ring fencing your inbox management to certain periods of the day to enable you to concentrate on your to-do list.

Whatever it is, tiny habits compound over a year, and improving just one will have a surprisingly big impact on your energy and focus going into 2026.

24 - And Relax

Have a wonderful Christmas.

Pace yourself, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, and relax knowing that 2026 is going to be a belter.