Let’s Get Back to Business!

By Stefanie Neyland, Small Business Content Developer at BizLaunch.com

For most, September means one thing: back to school. But for entrepreneurs, it should mean something else altogether—back to business.

However, with the leaves still clinging to the trees and an air of summer lingering in the air, the year-end couldn’t be further from our minds; but the reality is that September should be a time for the ‘five R’s’—revisiting, reassessing, revamping, refreshing and re-evaluating.

So take our advice by bidding farewell to summer and welcoming in the fall with open arms—it’s time to embrace autumn as the time to refocus and kickstart your business for a killer fourth quarter.

Revisit your goals

Any entrepreneur will understand the importance of establishing clear objectives and quarterly milestones—they help us create a plan to reach our targets and ultimately achieve success. Now’s the time to start setting some realistic goals for your business for the rest of the year, so prepare yourself  by asking questions like: What are my objectives for the next quarter? How will I go about reaching these targets? Finally, remember to regularly check-in with your aims to ensure you’re staying on track.

Reassess your business strategy

Use this month as an opportunity to take a fresh look at your business strategy. Take some time to get up-to-speed on the latest industry-related news, events, trends and changes in your field. What are your competitors are up to? Are there any networking opportunities in the coming months? What new technologies, tools or services are there that may be beneficial to your business? A successful company constantly evaluates and assesses the marketplace to stay at the top of their game.

Revamp your marketing efforts

As a small business owner, you’ll already be well aware of the power of marketing.  A solid marketing plan is the key to promoting your brand and increasing sales; and the start of the new quarter is the perfect time to dust off your previous plan by looking for some creative ways to revamp it.

Refresh your work space

If you’re a parent, you’ve probably spent the last couple of weeks outfitting your kids with all the latest gadgets, new clothes, and fresh packs of pens, pencils and paper—but we can bet that you haven’t done the same for yourself. Believe it or not, sprucing up your workspace and treating yourself to some new office supplies can be great for the psyche—so start by straightening out that desk, buying some fresh stationery, and decluttering your work environment. Before you know it, you’ll be more organized and in turn, more efficient, productive and determined to succeed.

Reevaluate your business plan

Before you take the plunge and dive back into your daily work routine, take some time to review and revise your business plan. While it may seem like a challenging task before you begin, constantly updating your business plan helps entrepreneurs make order out of chaos. You can start with an old plan and modify it, but make sure you're taking a fresh look—distance yourself from the trees and look at the forest.

So what are you waiting for? Put the ‘four R’s’ into action and make the fourth quarter one to remember!