You’re a proactive business owner- naturally you’re thinking about the future of your business. Maybe you have some short-term goals, or you can envision where you see your business in 5 or 10 years time.
You need a plan. This doesn’t have to be a lengthy document, keep it simple. What’s working? What’s draining your time or profit? Where do you want to be and how are you going to get there? If you’re wondering how to write a business plan, we’ve pulled together the things include in your plan, to make more money in 2026.
1. Reflect on the Past Year
Before you race into setting new goals, take a moment to look back. What worked in the past 12 months? What didn’t—and why?
Start with your numbers. Did revenue meet expectations? Were margins healthy? How was your cash flow? Even if you’re not a ‘numbers person’, it’s important to track your metrics over time to identify areas you can improve [link to short video]
2. Set Three Clear Goals for 2026
It’s easy to set 10+ goals and try to overhaul everything at once. But in our experience, the most successful plans stick to three priorities: one financial, one operational, and one personal/business lifestyle goal.
You might want to:
- Increase your year-on-year net profit by 20%
- Hire a full-time operations manager and marketing manager
- Take a two-week family holiday in July and stay off your emails
The trick is to be specific and make it measurable. You should also write these goals down, which is a science-backed way to work towards them. Maybe it’s on a whiteboard where your whole team can see them. This can help keep you accountable and keep everyone focused and aligned.
3. Review Your Pricing Strategy
Good pricing isn’t just about covering your expenses. It’s about reflecting your value, aligning with your positioning, and making sure you’re actually making money after delivering the work. Many business owners feel nervous increasing prices, but undercharging is one of the biggest drags on profitability [article about undercharging]
We help clients review their pricing with real data—looking at margins, benchmarks, cost structures and value-based pricing models. Start with the following:
– Your current margins – Are you hitting your target profitability on each service or project?
– Your true cost to serve – Do you know what it actually costs you (in time, labour, software, admin) to deliver your service?
– Scope Creep – Have you increased your level of service for specific clients? It may be time to speak to them.
4. Build a Financial Plan That Backs Your Goals
This is where most DIY business plans fall over. You set goals, but the numbers don’t support the plan—or worse, there’s no financial plan at all.
If you’re aiming to grow, take time off, invest in new technology or bring on new staff members, your budget needs to reflect that. A solid financial plan includes an updated 2026 budget and a simple cash flow forecast.
There’s a lot of forecasting software and tools out there that can help you- speak to us if you want to know which ones are right for your business.
5. Reassess Your Team, Systems and Capacity
Are you doing too much? Most business owners are. Your plan should include a look at how you’re spending your time—and how that aligns with the business you want to build. Maybe you’re looking to shift away from managing your employees, and refocus this on business development, strategy or marketing.
It might also be time to hire some new staff. Or maybe you need better systems and processes so you’re not buried in admin. Implementing better tools—from automation to task management—can give you back time, reduce errors, and help your team work more efficiently.
6. Make a Plan to Check in Regularly
One of the most overlooked parts of writing a business plan? Scheduling time to use it.
We recommend sitting down quarterly to review your plan and make any changes. Block time out in your calendar now—just like you would a client meeting. Use that time to:
· Compare your actual results to your targets
· Review what’s working and what’s not
· Adjust your strategy based on new information or opportunities
Writing a business plan doesn’t have to be a huge exercise. It’s a chance to pause, get clear on what matters, and decide how you want your business to work for you in 2026. It can be as formal or as informal as you like, the benefit or startegic planning remains the same.
If you want some help with that—financially, strategically, or even just figuring out where to start—book in a planning session with us at JD Scott + Co. Let’s make this your most profitable, intentional year yet.
