• November 19, 2025
• By Rick Arthur
• In Profit Plan, Strategic Plan, Tax Planning
• No Comment
• 9

Vision and execution are two vital elements that characterize vibrant, successful businesses. Solid, actionable planning connects them.

Here we are, on the doorstep of yet another year, and it’s time to tackle planning.

Where should you start and what areas should you consider? I’ve compiled some tips that will help you construct a solid foundation for 2026.

1. Take time to reflect upon what is at the heart of your business, what drives you to succeed, and what motivates you to keep pushing forward, even through tough times. The source of your unwavering commitment to your business, though it may be intangible, is very real. It’s your WHY– the reason you started your business and what you are in business to accomplish. Revisiting your WHY helps maintain perspective and direction.
2. Think strategically. A good strategic plan will help you prioritize and direct your focus to the principal elements and resources that are critical to your company’s success, move your company forward, and help you maintain profitability and positive cash flow. Profitability is affected by a variety of factors, not all of which are strictly financial. I often refer to my Five Ps of Business Success: People, Product, Process, Price, and Planning. This philosophy is at the center of the business operating model I’ve developed, and planning is the springboard to progress.
3. I advise my clients to create a profit plan rather than a budget. It reflects and reinforces your company’s strategic mindset to help you make solid decisions even in an uncertain climate. Include both an operating budget and cash flow forecast which will define the business objectives you want to achieve and how you’ll get there. The profit plan supports financial goals, increases visibility, and provides clarity and accountability. Companies that have a profit plan in place and adhere to it typically experience growth. And the level of control the profit plan provides over the direction of the business, instills confidence.
4. Ensure you are ready for tax season. Don’t try to do this on your own. It’s worth the investment to work with your CPA or tax expert. As we know, both federal and state income taxes are based on the money your business makes but the amount you owe is determined by how your business is set up, among other factors. This article from QuickBooks provides a tax preparation guide and checklist.
5. Assess whether you might need a financial tune-up. Business owners rightfully focus on the elements of building and maintaining trust with customers and within the industry, along with sustaining success and growth. But in the process, may lose focus, and perhaps control, of the company’s financials, which can create issues throughout the organization. It’s a common issue and there are multiple tell-tale symptoms. With best practices and fundamental tools in place, companies can position themselves to dramatically change performance and productivity including enhanced revenue growth, increased net operating income, and boosted company valuation.
6. Bringing it All Together: Establish 90-Day Goals, or “Rocks.” Plans become highly achievable and less daunting when they are structured in 90-day increments. When companies identify what they need to accomplish in the next 90 days, they must then define their true priorities. This practice breaks the cycle of trying to focus on too much at once, ends the associated stress and chaos, and clarifies not only what’s most important but what is immediately achievable. This concept and its practices are especially useful when navigating what is still a changing economic landscape and enable adjustments throughout the year as needed.

Start with your long-term vision and 2026 annual goals, identify the three to seven most important short-term priorities for your business that can be accomplished in 90 days. Once you’ve established your company’s “Rocks,” each member of your leadership team and each employee will need to understand their own roles and contributions to accomplishing those for the business.

Reviewing the current year and planning and preparing for the next can be a daunting task. That’s where I come in. My WHY is your HOW. For me, purpose comes in helping business owners optimize the financial components of their company for success.

During more than 40 years as a business owner, specializing in fiscal management, I’ve developed an extensive repertoire of methods and solutions. Not having to search for them yourself enables you to maintain focus on why you are in the business you’re in.

As the former owner of a multi-million-dollar company, I’m a CFO with a CEO perspective, which provides me with a unique understanding of how financials interface with all other aspects of your business. My WHY is also about relationships. I understand the personal investment you make in your business and what business owners face.

I invite you to contact me to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your unique needs and concerns for your business as you plan for next year.