6 SMART FINANCIAL MOVES TO GET YOUR BUSINESS READY BEFORE 2026

– BY MADDIE CRAIG | 2025

The end of the year has a way of sneaking up on all of us...!

Here are six simple things you can start preparing now to avoid that scramble and be able to walk into 2026 with your business feeling stable, intentional, and ready to grow.

1. Review Your Books for Accuracy (Before Your Accountant Does)

We love automation. We love convenience. But bank feeds and software rules aren’t always right.

Take time to:

• Categorize any lingering “Uncategorized” transactions

• Match deposits to invoices (not just lump them in as income!)

• Make sure vendor and contractor names are consistent

• Confirm sales tax entries are clean if applicable

This is like tidying before the guests come over. You don’t need perfection — just don’t wait until the last minute!

2. Reconcile ALL Accounts — Not Just The Checking Account

So many business owners reconcile the bank account and forget:

• Credit cards

• PayPal/Stripe/Square clearing accounts

• Employee expense cards

• Loan balances

If the balance in your accounting software doesn’t match the real-world balance, it will snowball into reporting errors.

A clean reconciliation is the financial equivalent of fresh laundry. Everything just feels better knowing your numbers are right and your reports will be nice and clean!

3. Review Your Pricing Going Into the New Year

Costs shift. Workloads change. And businesses grow — but pricing often doesn’t.

Ask yourself:

• Have my expenses increased?

• Has my workload increased?

• Am I doing more than I was when pricing was originally set?

If the answer is yes, a price adjustment may be appropriate and intentional (not emotional, not last-minute, not guilt-filled).

Make pricing decisions before the new year so you can communicate them calmly and clearly.

4. Evaluate Your Subscriptions + Tools

You may discover you’re paying $29, $59, or $249 a month for something you have not used for months like some of our clients did!

Do a quick audit:

• Pull a list of your business subscriptions

• Cancel anything you haven’t used in the last 90 days

• Consolidate tools where possible

Small recurring costs are like gremlins. They multiply if you’re not watching.

5. Create (or Refresh) Your SOPs

If your business relies on your brain holding everything — that’s exhausting for you and confusing for anyone else helping. Creating SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) provides clear steps so work can be shared, repeated, and done consistently.

Choose one recurring workflow and document it:

• Monthly bookkeeping tasks

• Onboarding new clients/customers

• How you schedule your social media

• How you send invoices or project proposals

Think of SOPs as “future you insurance".

6. Set Clear Financial Targets for 2026

This doesn't mean vague goals like “make more money.”

Try something more concrete:

• “Increase revenue by 10% from last year"

• “Reduce payroll stress by hiring a part-time admin by April”

• “Maintain a consistent 25–30% profit margin each quarter”

• “Save for a business cushion of 3 additional months of expenses"

Clear targets = clear decisions. Vague targets = burnout & chaos.

The takeaway:

You don’t need to overhaul your business to make it healthier. Sometimes you just need to tighten a few foundational pieces before the year changes.

Start with ONE, then move through the rest over the next few weeks and into the new year: Reconcile. Adjust pricing. Audit subscriptions. Set targets.

And if you want support with any of these steps (especially the bookkeeping, reporting, or system-building side), that’s exactly what we help with. You don't have to untangle it alone! Reach out anytime!

Reminder: This article is for educational purposes only — not financial or legal advice. Always consult a professional who knows your specific business!

Meet The Author

Maddie Craig is the founder of Blue Cypher Bookkeeping, a detail-oriented bookkeeper, and definitely a “numbers nerd”! She is passionate about helping organizations understand the full story of their financials and using it to make more confident decisions and grow strategically. She has experience working with a wide array of clients, including small businesses and non-profit organizations. When not crunching numbers, she and her husband enjoy traveling, being active in the community, and sharing their love for good food with friends and family.

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