I’m going to be honest with you: most business owners do annual planning wrong.
They sit down in December (or worse, January), look at their revenue from the year, add 20% because “growth,” and call it a day.
But throwing numbers on a spreadsheet and hoping they magically happen isn’t planning. It’s guessing. And it’s not going to get you where you want to go.
Let’s talk about what actually works—and how to plan for a year that supports your life, your goals, and your bottom line.
First, Get Real About What This Year Taught You
Before you set goals for next year, take a good hard look at this one. Ask yourself:
- What actually made us money?
- What felt heavy and exhausting?
- Where did the margins fall apart?
- What would I never do again?
You’re not just chasing bigger numbers—you’re building a business that works for you. Learn from what didn’t work, and double down on what did.
Then, Ground Your Goals in Reality (Not Vibes)
Let’s say you want to grow by 30% next year. Awesome.
Now ask:
- What would need to change operationally to support that?
- Do you have the team to deliver it?
- Do your prices reflect the value and effort required?
- What will that mean for your tax liability, cash flow, and owner’s pay?
This is the kind of stuff CEOs consider before putting a revenue goal on the vision board.
Forecasting Isn’t Optional
If you’re not running numbers, you’re not planning—you’re hoping.
Every enterprise-level business has a forecast. If you want to lead like a big business, you need to think like one.
That means:
- Mapping out expected revenue by offer, quarter, or launch
- Planning out expenses (not just overhead, but team growth, tools, and investments)
- Tracking the difference between what you hope happens and what actually does
When you do this, you stop making emotional decisions. You start leading like a CFO. (And if you don’t have one, hi—let’s fix that.)
Don’t Forget the Human Side
Here’s what gets left out of most planning meetings: you.
What kind of year do you want to have?
- More time with your family?
- Better team support?
- Less “everything’s on fire” energy?
Put those things on the whiteboard first. Then build the numbers around them.
If your business plan only looks good on paper but burns you out in practice, it’s not a good plan.
Final Thought
Planning isn’t just about what you want to do next year—it’s about how you want to feel.
Do you want to feel confident? In control? Profitable?
Then you need more than a spreadsheet—you need a strategy.
And if you’re ready to map it out with someone who’s not afraid to ask the hard questions (with a little wit, of course), I’m your girl.