Turning your vision into 2026’s game plan
As the year winds down, it’s tempting to just limp over the finish line and “see how things go” next year.
With the New Zealand economy slowly emerging from a deep recession, and growth for 2026 expected to be modest rather than spectacular, a clear business plan is no longer optional – it’s survival gear.
Start with a simple year-end review. Ask:
- Money: Are we profitable by product or service, and what has happened to our margins and cashflow this year?
- Customers: Who are our best customers, and what problems did we really solve for them?
- Marketing and sales: What channels actually generated enquiries and sales – and what can we stop doing?
- Operations: Where did things break, get delayed or rely on one person? What systems need tightening or automation?
- People: Do we have the right roles and skills for where we want to go?
Looking ahead, the signs are positive. Forecasters expect GDP to pick up through 2025/26 and inflation to ease back towards the 2% midpoint, supported by lower interest rates and improving confidence. At the same time, unemployment has risen and consumers remain price-sensitive, so growth will favour businesses that are sharp on value and disciplined on execution – not just price alone.
So what will it take to succeed as a small business in 2026?
First, clarify your value proposition in plain language: why you, and why now, for your ideal customer. Second, build a simple, repeatable sales system – a handful of key activities every week that reliably generate conversations and quotes. Third, invest in productivity: tighten processes, document ‘one best way’ of doing key tasks, and use technology where it genuinely saves time or reduces errors. Finally, protect your cash: know your break-even point, keep a close eye on debtors, and avoid ‘busy work’ that doesn’t move the numbers.
Set three to five clear priorities for the first quarter of 2026, write them down, and review them weekly. That’s how a year-end review becomes a roadmap – and your vision becomes reality.
EBI can assist you to undertake a review providing you intent and focus to succeed in 2026. Contact us for a free, no obligation consultation.
