It’s December 1, 2025, and we are counting down the days until the new year. This was both the longest and shortest year in recent memory. I think we can all agree that it was a year of almost constant change with plenty of chaos. 

Whether you are celebrating big wins or feeling a bit the worse for wear and tear, there are some things you should consider doing before the end of the year. 

Review your financials

Many small business owners forget to look at (or actively avoid looking at) their financials. They may assume that everything is fine, or be in denial about what their situation actually is. 

Not looking at your financial information doesn’t make problems go away, unfortunately. It is prudent to take a look at where you are vs. your goals. And don’t forget to review your cash flow. That is the life blood of a small business. 

Schedule meetings with key staff members

It’s important to understand how your employees feel about working at your company and with each other. How is morale at your company? Are your employees living the values of the business? What went well and what could be improved?

Make a point to thank team members who went the extra mile. If there are things to celebrate, maybe plan a holiday party or potluck lunch. 

Document processes 

Did you uncover any frustration, friction, or inefficiencies from your conversations with your employees? Now would be a good time to confirm that your processes work well and are documented. Small businesses often have one person who knows so much that the business would be in trouble if that person got sick or quit. Document key processes so someone else could step in if they had to. 

Reach out to key customers

Happy customers will keep you in business so don’t take them for granted. Reach out personally to key customers and send cards or emails to as many as you can. If your business runs on referrals, like mine does, this may help set you up for success in the new year. 

Carve out time to plan for the new year

December could be your slow season or the busiest time of the year. Either way, you’ll want to start planning for the new year if you haven’t done that already. Update or create a basic business plan and marketing plan. 

Yes, you may want to review and revise your plans in January, but the time to start thinking about what you want to accomplish and how you are going to do it is now. 

Photo by Eric Rothermel on Unsplash