Hello Chasers,
As a very fast 2023 finally draws to an end, it is time to start shifting your focus to 2024 and plan for a successful year ahead.
At the beginning of the year, many small business owners make a list of resolutions to help them run a more successful and more profitable business throughout the year ahead. Whether it’s to decrease costs, grow market share, improve cash flow or get more organised, a New Year provides the opportunity to begin with a clean slate.
Since we all know that the first step toward realising our goals is to set them, the New Year offers the perfect opportunity to review your organisation’s goals and create new ones. Here are a few great resolutions that can help businesses thrive in today’s competitive environment.
- Plan ahead
The first step toward ramping up your business in 2024 is putting a business plan in place. We know from experience and research that in general, business owners benefit from having a formal, written plan. If you have one already, now is the time to do a quick review and consider updates to reflect your current business needs and goals.
If you don’t have one, set aside time to put one together.
Writing a business plan can help business owners prioritise how to spend their time and money and set measurable goals. It also can help identify current or future obstacles so you can better anticipate and avoid potential risks. A business plan also may help you obtain business financing. For example, for an SBE loan and some larger business loans and lines of credit, lenders may require a formal business plan before extending credit.
- Jump start your competition
Every business owner wants a leg up on their competition. Taking time to research and understand your competitive landscape will not only help you to better comprehend the market and your key competitors but will also help you to identify and map out potential customers or partners and perhaps target your next advertising campaign.
The process of comparing your business to competitors can be used as part of the business planning process. Search the internet for the free resources available to help provide you with key insights on competitors and the market for their business.
- Re-think your payment options
Now also is a great time to evaluate all of the payment options you offer customers and determine whether these need to be updated, including whether to transition to chip card/EMV, MasterCard, and Visa) acceptance for credit card payments.
Accepting advanced technologies like credit and debit cards embedded with chips (EMV cards) is one important step to reduce the risk of fraud, strengthen security and accept more methods of payment. Taking the latest payment options, including accepting mobile payments, can help increase sales for your business by providing your customers with greater convenience and more payment choices. PayPal, Tyro, Stripe and Square Reader are also good options to consider.
- Manage cash flow
Even businesses with healthy growth and strong sales run the risk of owing more than they can pay in a given month. Fortunately, spending some time preparing a cash flow projection can help you identify potential cash shortfalls in 2024. To keep your projections on track, create a rolling 12-month plan that you can update at the end of each month. Look for ways to reduce expenses and increase revenues. Is it time to shop for new suppliers and vendors? Or is it time to boost your prices a bit? Once you’ve gotten into the habit of using a cash-flow projection, it should give you added control over your cash flow and a clearer picture of your company’s financial health.
Like many New Year’s resolutions, the list may seem a bit daunting.
But the effort involved is worth it – for you and your business!
Have a great day!
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