Strategies to make 2026 your best year in business

The new year is here and you’re ready to make it count. But here’s the truth most business owners learn the hard way: the decisions you make in January shape your entire year. Make 2026 your best year in business by implementing simple changes to improve profitability, reclaim time and fuel growth!

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With 2.7 million businesses operating in Australia and 97.2% of them employing fewer than 20 people, small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Yet only 76.5% survive their first year. The difference? Smart operational decisions made early. 

Here are the practical changes you can make right now to boost profits, save time and build your business in 2026. 

Fix your money first

Before chasing new customers, look at what you’re already spending. 

Grab your last three months of bank statements and highlight every recurring charge. You’ll find forgotten subscriptions, unused services and suppliers you can renegotiate. Cutting just $200 a month saves you $2,400 this year. 

When did you last raise your prices? If it’s been over 18 months, you’re probably charging too little. A 5-10% increase won’t scare away good customers – especially when you explain the value you provide. 

Finally, if you’re still mixing personal and business money in one account, fix that now. Separate accounts make tax time easier and show you exactly how your business is really performing. 

Stop doing everything manually

Your time is worth money. Every hour spent on admin is an hour you’re not earning. 

Set up automatic invoicing and payment reminders. This alone cuts hours from your month. Use accounting software like Xero or MYOB – it connects to your bank and does your bookkeeping automatically.

Create email templates for common questions. Set up a booking system so clients can schedule themselves. These small changes add up to massive time savings. 

Ensuring you’re capturing every opportunity

When your phone rings and you can’t answer, you’re not just missing a call – you’re missing money. Here’s a sobering reality: most callers won’t leave a voicemail and many won’t call back.

But you can’t answer the phone while you’re with a customer, in a meeting or actually doing the work. That’s the challenge every small business faces, especially micro businesses and sole traders.

Professional call answering solves this. OfficeHQ’s new MyReceptionist 15 plan means you have professionally receptionists available to answer calls in your business name – and transferred only when appropriate – for just $39 a month. Yes, for a fraction of the cost of hiring a receptionist in-house, your 15 monthly calls are answered by actual people (not robots) and screened professionally.

There’s no lock-in contract and, as you grow, your call answering service can grow with you. Scale from 15 calls to 25, 50, 100 or more – all with the same consistent, professional service that makes even a one-person operation sound like a established company. 

The impact goes beyond just catching calls. When customers can always reach a real person who knows your business, you create a professional impression that builds trust. You eliminate the stress of trying to be available 24/7. And you free yourself to focus on the work that actually generates revenue.

Set realistic, measurable goals 

“Grow the business” isn’t a goal – it’s a wish. Successful business owners set specific, measurable targets. 

Define your revenue target. Be specific: “I want to increase monthly revenue from $8,000 to $10,000 by June 2026” gives you something concrete to work towards and track. 

Break it down. Need an extra $2,000 a month? That’s three new clients at $670 each. Or 20 sales with an average order value of $100. Suddenly it feels doable. 

Find your biggest bottleneck. For most small businesses, it’s not demand – it’s your own capacity. Are you out of time? Do you need help? Is your pricing too low? Fix your biggest constraint first. 

Set quarterly check-ins. Review your goals every 90 days. This keeps you accountable, lets you adjust course if needed and prevents you from reaching December wondering where the year went. 

Keep your existing customers happy

Acquiring new customers costs at least 5 times more than keeping existing ones. Yet many small businesses spend all their energy chasing new leads while letting current customers drift away. 

Touch base quarterly, even just a quick “How’s everything going?” email. Set up a two-question survey: “What’s working well?” and “What could we improve?” Send it after the completion of each project.

Small gestures matter. Priority booking for regulars. Remembering details about their business. These things keep customers coming back. 

Protect your time fiercely

Time is your most valuable asset yet Australian small business owners consistently report working long hours – often 50-60+ hours per week. Many micro business owners work significantly more. Burnout is real.

Stop trying to do everything yourself and implement these changes:

• Batch similar tasks: Answer all emails at once. Do all invoicing the same day each week. This cuts the mental cost of constantly switching between tasks. 
• Learn to say no: Not every opportunity is worth your time. Not every potential client is a good fit. 
• Outsource strategically: Virtual receptionists, virtual assistants, bookkeepers – these aren’t luxuries. If you charge $150 an hour and pay someone $40 an hour for admin, you’re making smart money.
• Schedule real breaks: Your thinking gets worse when you’re exhausted. Block out lunch. Take weekends. Plan time off. It’s not optional – it’s business strategy. 

Market consistently

You don’t need a huge budget. You need to show up regularly. 

Set up your Google Business Profile if you haven’t already. It’s free and it’s how local customers find you. Add photos. Ask happy clients for reviews. 

Pick one social platform where your customers actually are and post twice a week. Don’t try to be everywhere. 

Build your email list. Send a monthly email with helpful tips or updates. It keeps you front-of-mind. 

Ask for referrals. Your happy customers will recommend you – they just need to be asked. 

Build a safety net

Create a cash buffer. Even $1,000 gives you breathing room for unexpected expenses. Aim for 3-6 months of basic costs over time. 

Write down how you do things. If you couldn’t work for a month, could someone keep things running? Basic documentation protects you. 

Check your insurance covers your actual business today, not what it looked like three years ago. 

If most of your income comes from one or two clients, that’s risky. Gradually spread it across more customers. 

Take action now and prioritise effectively

Making 2026 your best year in business doesn’t need massive change or huge investment. It needs smart decisions and consistent action. 

Pick the three strategies that solve your biggest problems right now. Drowning in admin? Automate and outsource. Missing opportunities? Fix your call handling. Exhausted? Protect your time. 

The businesses that thrive treat January as planning time, not just a slow ramp-up. They make improvements now while energy is high. 

You’ve read this far. Now schedule one hour this week to implement your top three actions. Your end-of-year self will thank you. 

Ready to stop missing calls? Try OfficeHQ’s live call answering service free for 7 days. Activate instantly. No credit card required. Have us answering calls for your business within minutes!

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