As the end of the year approaches, many small business owners start thinking about what they want to achieve next year. The problem is, most goal-setting advice floating around isn’t designed for real-world businesses — especially not for trade, construction, and service-based businesses, where the owner is also the estimator, scheduler, bookkeeper and team leader.
You’ve probably heard of SMART goals; Specific, Measurable, Achievable, etc. They sound good in theory. But in practice, they often turn into vague wish lists that are forgotten by February.
At VBA, we work with Sunshine Coast business owners who don’t have time for corporate buzzwords. What they want is clarity, direction, and a plan they can actually stick to, even when things get busy. So this November, as you start thinking ahead to 2026, here are five fresh and more realistic ways to set goals that actually get done.
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The 1-3-5 Rule: Keep It Simple and Doable
One of the biggest mistakes small business owners make is trying to do too much at once. The 1-3-5 method brings structure and focus. Rather than writing a long list of everything you’d like to improve, this approach asks you to choose one main outcome you want to achieve, three medium-sized priorities that support that outcome, and five smaller tasks or actions to get the ball rolling.
It works because it forces clarity. For example, your one big goal for the year might be to increase net profit by 15%. To get there, you might focus on quoting more accurately, reducing job rework, and raising prices on lower-margin services. Then you’d outline five smaller steps to start making that happen, such as reviewing your job costing data, updating your quoting system, or sitting down with your accountant to refine your pricing strategy.
You don’t need to overcomplicate it. Write your 1-3-5 down somewhere visible and check in monthly to see how you’re tracking.
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Anti-Goals: What Don’t You Want?
Sometimes, it’s easier to be clear on what you don’t want than what you do. That’s where “anti-goals” come in.
This method flips the usual goal-setting process on its head. Rather than dreaming up big achievements, you start by identifying the pain points you want to eliminate in your business or lifestyle. Things like working every weekend, chasing late invoices, or constantly dealing with underquoted jobs.
Once you’ve listed the problems, you build goals and systems to move away from them. If you’re always on the tools and never taking time off, your goal might be to hire an apprentice or train someone up to take over certain tasks. If you’re always cash-flow stressed because clients pay late, maybe it’s time to change your payment terms or tighten your deposit policy.
Anti-goals keep you grounded and help you build a business that works for you, not the other way around.
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Choose a One-Word Theme to Guide the Year
If you find yourself rolling your eyes at detailed goal plans, try something even simpler: choose one word to define what you want from 2026.
Your theme might be “simplify” a reminder to streamline your systems, cut unnecessary tools, or say no to jobs that don’t align with your strengths. It could be “scale”, focusing your attention on growing the team or putting systems in place to remove yourself from day-to-day operations. Or maybe it’s “profit”, where every decision gets filtered through the question: “Does this help us make more or keep more?”
This method doesn’t require spreadsheets or planning templates. It’s just a way to stay aligned with your bigger picture as the year unfolds. When faced with a decision, whether to take on another job, upgrade a system, or hire someone new, your one-word theme can help you make a clear, confident choice.
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Set Goals Based on What You Want Your Customers to Say
Another great approach, especially for service-based businesses, is to start with your customers’ perspective. Instead of thinking only about internal metrics like revenue or efficiency, ask yourself: What do I want my clients to say about us by the end of next year?
Maybe you want to be known as the business that’s always on time, communicates clearly, and delivers top-quality work. If that’s the case, your goals might involve improving your scheduling system, standardising your quotes, or training your team in customer communication.
This method helps you focus on what matters most to the people who keep your business running — your clients. And when you make things better for them, you often improve both profitability and efficiency.
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Think in 12-Week Blocks, Not 12-Month Plans
Annual goals can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to plan for an entire year while juggling a busy workload. That’s why many business owners never follow through on the goals they set in January.
Instead, break your year into quarters and plan in 12-week blocks. Choose one or two focus areas for each quarter, set a few clear actions, and treat it like a sprint. When the 12 weeks are up, review what worked, what didn’t, and what you’ll tackle next.
This approach keeps your goals relevant and achievable. It also allows you to adapt as things change, which they always do in small business.
For example, you might dedicate the first quarter of 2026 to fixing your quoting system. The next quarter might focus on marketing or onboarding a new staff member. Smaller, focused bursts of effort can lead to far more progress than vague annual intentions.
Staying Accountable (Without Getting Lost in Admin)
Even the best goals fall flat without some form of accountability. But you don’t need a fancy app or complicated system. A monthly 30-minute review is enough to stay on track.
Some business owners do this alone, using a whiteboard or notebook. Others check in with their partner, a business coach, or their accountant. If you have a team, you can bring elements of your goals into your toolbox talks or weekly meetings.
The key is to make it a habit. Set a recurring time in your calendar to check in with yourself: What progress have I made? What’s getting in the way? What’s next?
The best goals are the ones you revisit often; not the ones you write once and forget about.
Know Your Numbers First
Before you can set meaningful goals, you need to know where you’re starting from. That means understanding your profit margins, your job costs, your cash flow patterns, and your break-even point.
Many business owners guess at these numbers or avoid them altogether. But knowing your financials is what turns vague goals into real results.
Want to grow profit next year? Start by reviewing which jobs or services are actually profitable. Want to reduce stress? Look at your cash flow trends and fix the gaps. Want to hire someone? Check if your margins can support it.
At VBA, this is what we help business owners do every day; make decisions based on data, not gut feel.
Set Goals That Matter (and That You’ll Actually Follow Through On)
You don’t need a corporate goal-setting template to make 2026 your best year yet. What you need is clarity, simplicity, and the right systems to follow through even when things get busy.
Whether it’s using the 1-3-5 rule, identifying anti-goals, or just picking one word to guide your year, the best plan is the one that fits how you operate.
If you’d like help reviewing your numbers, identifying opportunities, or setting practical goals that you’ll actually follow through on, now is the time to book in.
Let’s have a planning session before Christmas and set you up for a more focused, profitable, and enjoyable 2026.
