The holidays are winding down, and the new year is upon us; now is an excellent time to create or review an existing business checklist. A business checklist is helpful to review your business goals and organize your business for the new year. A free business checklist template is available here.
The year-end lull is an ideal time to run through your small business checklist to help start 2025 on the right foot:
Checklist
Business agreements and contracts.
When was the last time your agreements were reviewed and updated? Are key agreements missing that could help protect your business move forward? Here is a partial list of the business agreements you need to help you get started.
Intellectual property.
Have you evaluated your business assets, ideas and brand to ensure they are protected to the full extent possible? Are you planning to enter global markets? Take a look at where and how your patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets protect your business.
Finances.
Tax season is approaching, so it’s ideal to organize your financial documents now. If you plan to grow, this may also be a good time to review revenue sources and identify future funding and marketing options.
Growth strategy.
Have you been humming along at a steady pace? You might not have had time to consider future avenues for growth. It is time to tap into the creative minds of your staff or experts and start brainstorming. They are likely to have options for new product ideas, markets, or strategies for expanding business with your current clients.
Operations.
Are your outdated processes or systems not running as smoothly as you would like? It is time to ferret out snags in your operations that could be hindering growth. Once you identify these obstacles, you can begin developing a plan to address them in the new year.
Exit strategy.
Are you ready to sell? Perhaps you are considering retirement. A seamless transition requires extensive preparation. Now is an optimal time to consider the first steps to secure your exit plan and future endeavors.
EmergeCounsel can help you with everything from concept to commerce and beyond. Contact us today for a free consultation.