It's that time again: the leaves are changing, the weather is cooling off, and small business owners everywhere are scrambling as they anticipate the end of the year. If you're feeling frazzled, take a deep breath and check out this quarter-end planning guide for small businesses courtesy of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. We'll help you wrap up the loose ends from Q4 so you can start Q1 refreshed and ready to dive in.

Annual Goal Eval

If you want to end the year on a strong note, begin by taking a look back at how this year's goals have gone so far. Did you achieve what you set out to achieve? Why or why not? What roadblocks got in your way? This reflection is important in setting realistic and achievable goals for Q1 of the new year.

Set Your New Goals

Once you understand what did and didn't work this year, it's time to start setting some new goals! But before you go overboard, remember that quality is more important than quantity. It's better to have a few well-defined goals than a long list of unfocused ones. And don't forget to make your goals SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Wrap Up Your Holiday Marketing Plan

If you haven't started thinking about your holiday marketing yet, now is definitely the time! The key to successful holiday marketing is planning ahead so you're not scrambling at the last minute. Your plan should include a variety of strategies to reach consumers and promote your business. Traditional methods such as print ads, direct mail, and radio or TV commercials can be effective, but don't forget about online marketing tactics as well.

Creating a holiday-themed website or landing page can help to drive traffic and generate leads, and email marketing can be used to send special offers and updates to your subscribers. For instance, you could create a gift guide in Word, add some high quality product images, and use this free tool to then convert your file to PDF. From there, you can send your sharp-looking PDF via email and make it downloadable through your website. Social media is also a great way to connect with potential customers and create buzz about your company, so share images there, as well. By incorporating different marketing efforts, you can reach the widest possible audience and maximize your chances for success this holiday season.

Check Your Stock

Remember that whole "preparing for the rush" thing we talked about earlier? Q4 is also a good time to stock up on inventory so you're prepared for any sudden spikes in customer demand. No one wants to run out of product during the busy holiday season, so plan accordingly and order extra inventory now.

Catching Up On Bookkeeping

If bookkeeping isn't your strong suit, Q4 is a great time to catch up on all those pesky invoices and receipts. Slogging through receipts may not be fun, but it's definitely worth it come tax time. So set aside some time now to get your financial house in order. You'll be glad you did come April 15th!                                                                            

Speaking of April ...

Assemble all of your business tax paperwork in one place so you're not scrambling come tax season. This includes everything from 1099 forms to W-2s to receipts for business expenses. The more organized you are now, the easier it will be to file your taxes later. Do yourself a favor and organize everything in digital PDF files that you can condense for easier file-sharing with your accountant.

Q4 can be a busy – and stressful – time for small business owners. Use this quarter-end planning guide to wrap up loose ends from Q4 and get ready for a successful Q1. From evaluating annual goals to stocking up on inventory to organizing your tax documents, we've got everything covered.