What's Your Plan Stan In Small Business? Push Through To Christmas!

INTRODUCTION:

Yes it's Monday morning and it's the lead up to Christmas. What do you plan to achieve before the end of next month? Whilst there maybe only 6 weeks left of this year it's not too late to sit down with your small business advisors and/or small business accountants and map out a short term plan and a long term plan so you can get ready to hit the ground running next year.

Here is a list of things you might want to consider right now.

Figure1: Finish the year off well and then enjoy the festive season!

1. Sales Targets Until 31 December

It's never too late to try and finish the year off in style when it comes to sales targets when it might be tempting to limp over the line. How are your revenue targets looking year to date from when you did your three way budgets and cash flow forecasts? Have you or your team:

• followed up all leads ("follow up until they buy or die");
• contacted your best customers for a chat (this can lead to more sales);
• opportunities to let your clients know about new products or services or upcoming price rises;

2. Year In Review

Whilst you might be tempted to go like a bat out of hell until Christmas, take some time to reflect on how this year as gone. What worked well and what didn't? Jot some of these thoughts down so that when you set your goals for next year you will have a good understanding about what needs to be discussed and brainstormed with your team and small business advisors.

3. What's Stopping The Business/Team From Hitting goals

What has been the biggest thing stopping you and the team from reaching your targets?

What are you doing about it?

List some of things down that are getting in the way and then put them in order of priority. From there you need to have a plan to fix these issues until they are off the list.

Figure 2: Don't miss the boat when it comes to hitting targets in the last few weeks left.

4. Right People Right Bus

Does your organisation really have the right people in the right places? When was the last time you did a review of your team and what feedback have you provided to them? 

5. One Page Strategic Plan

Readers of my blog know that I am a big fan of the one page strategic plan. Keeping it simple and easy to refer to, you should be starting to think how you might get this done early in the new year and not leave it to let another year pass through your fingers. You will get to list down your SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) as well quarterly and yearly goals which can be easily reviewed.

Please make sure that you have an accounting system that will help you keep track of the numbers. Cloud accounting programs such as Xero make this very easy for you to show your small business accountant and give them access to talk you through the results even by phone if necessary.

CONCLUSION:

Be always thinking ahead and never think you are too busy to look at and revise your plan.

Push through for the next few weeks and map out a strategy to get you closer to your goals and your Christmas will be much more enjoyable!