Your End-Of-Year Business 360 Checklist
Before you close your laptop and your office door (whether physical or virtual) for the holidays, OR before your year-end comes to a close, there are some things you need to do!
Yes, as much as we might want to make things a “next year” problem, wouldn’t you prefer to start the new year with a calm saunter back to work, instead of rushing, thinking of all the things you have to do?
Well, we know which one we’re choosing, but we’ve put together a list of essential end-of-year reviews, and what you do with it from here is a Choose Your Own Adventure story!
Bookkeeping & Accounting
First things first, finances!
Before you say “out of sight, out of mind,” make sure you:
Reconcile your accounts and locate any missing documents, receipts, etc.
Run your financial reports
Analyze your cash flow statements for trends and compare with the previous year to understand your yearly ebbs and flows
Download important files and reports
Back up your tech
And although most people would prefer to avoid it, being proactive is better than reactive when it comes to taxes, so if you find you have a little extra time:
Gather your key tax documents for 2025
Understand and make note of what forms you need to file
Request filing extensions if you need them
Are finances not your forte? No stress, because that’s one of the things we know best!
Strategy and Planning
When it comes to December, many business owners use the last month of the calendar year (typically also the end of their fiscal year) to chart their course for the year ahead.
You can do a few key actions to kickstart your planning process:
Update your business goals for 2026
Create an action plan with KPIs that can help keep you accountable
Ask for team input on prospective initiatives and changes to the business
Are you looking to start 2026 off with your right foot forward?
The Business Flow Formula program helps you stoke the fiery passion you have for your business, helping you create the path ahead, the processes and systems you need and more!
Learn how the Business Flow Formula works and book your consult call now!
Marketing
Your finances and your business goals aren’t the only things that will need some work!
Like everything in life, marketing is ever-changing, based on the week, the month and the year (and even more factors than just time, but writing them all would take too long). This is why it’s important to keep your plans flexible and adaptable, especially when it comes to your marketing.
There are two key actions you can take, which are:
Audit your website and make any updates to content, copy, and branding you may have pushed to the side during the year
Review your marketing strategy and, using data from your website and social media, update your document to reflect the changes you will be making for the year ahead
Not sure where to start when it comes to updating your strategy?
Book a 60-minute Ask a Creative call, and we can review and update your strategy together!
People Operations
Last, but never least, let’s talk people!
People are your business, of course, they’re at the heart of everyone’s businesses, and when December rears its head around, in all the hustle and bustle, everyone is so focused on numbers, strategies, and getting all that tedious work done that they forget about their people!
Keep your people front of mind this end-of-year by:
Sending out your feedback surveys for clients AND employees
Double-checking your upcoming payroll postings
Double-checking and confirming employee information for T4s (trust me, you’ll want to do this now)
If you have people questions, we have the answers!
Now, of course, this is a quick overview checklist, not a comprehensive list, because every business is different, everyone’s year-ends are different, but these are the essentials to setting you up for success in the new year!
Share this blog to help keep your network informed this year-end!
And if we don’t see you, enjoy your holidays and happy New Year!