The 7 Things I Do Every December to Set My Business Up for the Year Ahead

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their very own.

Key Takeaways

An extended-standing annual ritual helps a small enterprise proprietor mirror on the previous yr, make clear priorities and put together thoughtfully for what’s forward.
By way of deliberate planning, private accountability and significant connections, the method brings perspective, stability, and renewed focus with out counting on inflexible methods.

I’ve been working a small enterprise for greater than 20 years. Over that point, I’ve developed some routines. One routine occurs annually at the moment. Throughout December, I’m trying forward and pondering of the subsequent yr. I make my plans. I make just a few resolutions. I examine in with these vital. The precise particulars change annually, however the course of is identical.

Right here’s what I do yearly, on the finish of every yr.

Worker bonuses

Earlier than the yr is over, I attempt to make it possible for all of my staff and contractors who influence my enterprise have been evaluated, linked and obtain my appreciation. I ship money bonuses to every of them. It’s a discretionary bonus that I provide you with yearly based mostly on income and I’m cautious to make it possible for the bonus isn’t lower than it was the earlier yr, except income are so dangerous that I couldn’t afford to make the cost (which fortunately hasn’t ever occurred). Even in 2025, I’m doing these bonuses by guide examine, which I slip into a vacation card that features a private observe and is intentionally delivered old-fashioned within the mail. For just a few distant staff, I do the bonuses electronically, however nonetheless ship the cardboard.

Associated: If You Haven’t Already Completed These 7 Issues to Put together Your Enterprise for the Vacation Season, You’re Placing Your Enterprise Behind the 8-Ball

Worker evaluations

As a result of my enterprise is completely digital and plenty of of my individuals are positioned all through the world, I’ve stopped doing vacation events. Nevertheless, I make it some extent to examine in earlier than the yr is over with all staff with an off-the-cuff analysis simply to ensure they’re getting good (and constructive) suggestions they usually know the place they stand going into the subsequent yr. I take this time additionally to ascertain just a few targets for the upcoming calendar yr (i.e., chargeability, income technology, shopper service scores, schooling certificates, and so on.) with every individual so they’re clear how they’ll be evaluated within the coming yr and may benchmark themselves.

Items

Proper after Thanksgiving, I draw up a listing of individuals whom I wish to thank for doing enterprise with me in the course of the yr. They’re shoppers, potential shoppers, suppliers, companions and other people within the media. I normally ship sweets from Godiva or a present basket, and I preserve the price range to about $35 per individual. There are normally about 50 folks on this checklist, so you are able to do the maths. There’s additionally time concerned by my assistant to coordinate all of the ordering. Which suggests there’s a value. However it’s value it. I begin with final yr’s checklist and modify it. I get numerous pleasure in doing this. And I commonly hear again from folks saying thanks, and I do know it’s appreciated. It’s not a lot, however it’s a real gesture and jogs my memory of the people who find themselves actually vital for my enterprise.

Forecast

For a enterprise as small as mine, I don’t do a price range. However I do put together a forecast. That is a web-based spreadsheet and for my eyes solely. It takes me just a few days to work on annually at the moment. I revisit compensation and different prices to ensure my annual overhead displays actuality. I decide particular quantifiable targets for my enterprise — chargeable hours, shopper mission completions, new media tasks and consulting shoppers, new shopper income, and so on. — however I don’t make them extreme or out of attain. My spreadsheet takes into consideration an affordable estimate of the work I can anticipate within the coming yr and displays each direct and administrative prices related to that work, together with a projected web revenue for the yr. This fashion, I’ve my numbers clear heading into the brand new yr and I do know what I’ve to attain.

Resolutions

New 12 months’s resolutions are corny. However they’re helpful. Presently of yr, I make resolutions. For instance, on this coming yr, I’m resolving to satisfy sure of my distant staff in individual as soon as 1 / 4, even when which means me flying out to see them. I’m additionally resolving to lean deeper into AI in 2026 by assessing the capabilities I can leverage in my present software program (accounting, CRM, workplace) and investing in coaching for my folks to make use of it. I’m additionally going to lean closely into an AI Assistant to help me in all issues I do in my enterprise — proper now it’s ChatGPT, however Grok is coming in as a robust contender too.

Additionally, I’m committing to taking up just a few tasks which are out of my consolation zone as a result of — despite the fact that I’m risking profitability and even my repute — it’s the one method to develop, and it retains one’s thoughts very energetic with new challenges. I attempt to preserve these resolutions to a small quantity in order that they’re achievable.

Associated: 7 Issues I’ve Realized In 7 Years of Entrepreneurship

Private targets

Apart from my enterprise resolutions, I do make just a few private targets for myself annually. That normally revolves round sustaining a sure weight, exercising commonly, taking part in higher squash (don’t ask!) visiting a brand new nation (my spouse and I’ve been Airbnb-ing and dealing remotely three to 4 weeks in January in a unique nation annually over the previous few years and like it) or taking a household trip or taking a course in one thing I like. These targets not solely give me one thing to sit up for but additionally preserve my head balanced between enjoyable stuff and work stuff.

Doc

A very powerful factor about forecasting, purpose setting, and creating resolutions is accountability. None of this issues in case you’re not holding your self accountable to your commitments. To that finish, I create a activity in my calendar software to “examine in” on all of these items on the finish of every quarter. I’ve come to sit up for doing this when the duty comes up on my to-do checklist for the day. It’s a method to remind me of all that I’ve deliberate to do within the present yr and provides me a reset as to the place issues stand.

By the tip of the yr, it’s fascinating to see simply how a lot I achieved and the way practical all of my targets have been. I preserve these duties in my historical past as a result of it’s additionally enjoyable to look again at what was on my thoughts 5 or ten years in the past. You’d be stunned at how trivial all of these “issues” that have been so vital again then are right now. It provides me perspective.

That is what I do yearly. That is my course of. It eases my thoughts. It provides me readability. It helps me look ahead. It helps me admire what’s prior to now. It helps me put together for the longer term. For those who’re a enterprise proprietor like I’m, I strongly recommend doing one thing comparable. It really works.