New Year Financial Reset | Your 90-Day Action Plan
Transform your business finances with our practical 90-day reset plan. Get actionable steps for organization, systems building, and growth planning to make 2025 your best year yet.
The week between Christmas and New Year's offers a unique pause—a perfect time to reset and plan your business's financial success for 2025. While others are still finishing their holiday celebrations, you can get ahead by creating a practical 90-day plan that will transform your financial foundation. Building on our Clean Books, Clear Mind: Year-End Preparation Guide, this actionable roadmap will help you move from preparation to focused growth.
First 30 Days: Clean Slate (January)
Start with Organization:
- Match all bank transactions to your records through December 31:
- Basic Approach: Ensure all business transactions are categorized for taxes
- Custom Approach: Track transactions by project, service line, or location
- Collect Q4 receipts and scan them to digital files
- Create folders for 2025 tax documents (both digital and paper)
- Create a list all recurring software and subscription costs with renewal dates
- Move 2024 files to clearly labeled archive folders
Key Actions:
- Block out weekly "money dates" on your calendar (30 minutes each)
- If offered by your bank, set up bank statement downloads to occur automatically
- Choose your expense tracking approach:
- Basic Approach: Categories aligned with tax return requirements
- Custom Approach: Detailed categories that show your business performance
- Review each subscription - keep, cancel, or find alternatives
- Note which vendors need updated W-9 forms for 2025
Days 31-60: Build Systems (February)
Focus on Efficiency:
- Write step-by-step instructions for your invoicing process
- Set up auto-reminders for customer payments (15, 30, 45 days)
- Set up your client communication system:
- Basic Approach: Payment reminder templates
- Custom Approach: Full client communication strategy including payment schedules, check-ins, and review meetings
- Schedule monthly financial review:
- Basic Approach: Review profit & loss for tax planning
- Custom Approach: Analyze profit by service type, client, or project
- Set up automatic backup of financial files
Essential Steps:
- Choose your key performance indicators (KPIs):
- Basic Approach: Revenue, expenses, and profit
- Custom Approach: Customer retention rate, average revenue per client, service profitability
- Schedule recurring bills in your banking system
- Build a template library (invoices, late notices, receipts)
- Set up a cash flow spreadsheet with 90-day projections
- Create a monthly checklist for financial tasks
Days 61-90: Growth Planning (March)
Look Forward:
- Compare your rates with 3-5 similar service providers
- Calculate your actual hourly rate (including admin time)
- Create a list of services customers often request but you don't offer
- Review last year's expenses for cost-cutting opportunities
- List equipment/software that needs upgrading this year
Action Items:
- Calculate costs and ROI for each service you offer
- Set aside 10% of monthly income for business investments
- Create separate savings for taxes, emergencies, and opportunities
- Create your growth tracking system:
- Basic Approach: Monthly revenue targets
- Custom Approach: Targets by service type, client industry, or project size
- Schedule quarterly review dates (add to calendar now)
Frequently Asked Questions (view in browser)
I'm already overwhelmed with my finances. Won't this add more to my plate?
This plan is specifically designed to break down big financial tasks into manageable steps. By spending just 30 minutes a week on your "money date," you'll gradually build a stronger financial foundation without feeling overwhelmed.
Do I need special software or tools to follow this plan?
No, you can start with basic tools like spreadsheets and your existing accounting software. While we recommend certain tools for efficiency, the principles work with any system you're comfortable using.
What if I'm behind on my 2024 books?
You can still start this reset plan. In fact, the first 30 days include catching up and organizing past records. The key is to start where you are and move forward systematically.
Can I modify the timeline to fit my schedule?
Absolutely. While we've structured this as a 90-day plan, you can adjust the pace to match your business needs. The important part is maintaining consistent progress, even if it takes longer.
How do I know if I'm making progress?
Each 30-day section includes specific checkpoints and deliverables. You'll know you're on track when you can easily access your financial information, have clear systems in place, and feel confident about your business numbers.
Getting Started Next Week
Simple Steps You Can Take:
- Pull your December bank statement as soon as it's available online
- Review your service structure:
- Basic Approach: List current services and rates
- Custom Approach: Analyze service packages, customer preferences, and profitability by service
- Check for any expired credit cards on auto-payments
- Note upcoming software/service renewal dates
- Schedule your first weekly money date
Ready to Start Fresh?
Clean books create clear vision. Let's start your year right with:
- Current Books: Get all transactions entered and reconciled
- Clear Numbers: Know exactly where you stand
- Growth Plan: Build your business with confidence
📞 Call: (214) 306-7850 📧 Email: hello@mybizbookkeeper.com
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