Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Key Takeaways Dig deep in Q4 for boosted sales opportunities to meet year-end targets.
Streamline operations and set actionable goals to propel your team for the year ahead.
Fortify financial planning and re-establish your competitive edge to stay ahead of market shifts.
The end of the calendar year can bring mixed emotions for business owners. Relief that targets have (almost) been met, concern about readiness for the busiest retail month of the year and even excitement at what’s to come next year. Regardless, founders surely know that the year’s end is not a time to wind down — quite the opposite. The weeks between now and Jan. 1 present a unique opportunity to capitalize on year-end momentum and lay the groundwork for next year’s growth.
Here are five ways founders can close out 2025 strong and set themselves up for success in 2026.
1. Dig deep to hit sales targets
For those founders looking to lock down sales targets for the year, this can be a stressful but very productive time. The fourth quarter traditionally offers the best sales conversion rates of the year as B2B buyers are rushing to exhaust budgets, consumers are in spending mode and decision-makers want to close deals before the holidays.
This is the moment to reach out to prospects who’ve gone quiet, offer compelling year-end incentives and follow up on pending proposals with renewed urgency. Whether you’re targeting enterprise clients scrambling to spend remaining budget or consumers looking for holiday deals, customers are never as receptive to making purchases as they are in these final weeks of the year.
Related: Is Your Business Healthy? Why Every Entrepreneur Needs To Do These 3 Checkups Every Year
... continue reading