How to set yourself up for business growth in 2026

When you’re a trades business owner, it can be hard to switch off over the end-of-year break – especially after a flat-out December. But there’s a sweet spot in early January, once you’ve had some time to wind down but before everyone is back on the tools, that’s often the best time to start preparing for the year ahead and planning your business growth.

“Get the parties out the way, get the end of the year done and focus on having some downtime and some relaxation leading into Christmas and New Year. Then focus on the time before the team comes back to put your plan into place for the next 12 months,” Paul Rogers, head coach and founder of Tradie Coach, says.

He shares his tips to help you start 2026 with a business growth mindset. 

Business development growth strategies for 2026

● Set long-term goals for your business and consider how it fits into the rest of your life. 
● Sort your socials with a content plan, great photos and client testimonials.
● Plan equipment upgrades to coincide with supplier specials. 
● Think about pricing and the impact of material and other costs.
● Look at staffing and whether you need to hire more people. 

Set long-term goals

Instead of focusing only on the next 12 months, Paul suggests mapping out a 10-year vision across four pillars: lifestyle, family, business and legacy.

“A lot of people just focus on the business, which can have a negative impact on their personal life,” he explains. Think about what you want your life and business to look like in the future, then identify things you can do during the coming year to help make it happen. You might decide to hire a new apprentice to ease your workload, invest in a new invoicing system to make tax time easier or set aside weekends for family. 

Sort your socials for potential business growth opportunities

If you’re a builder, carpenter, painter or tradesperson in the business of making homes and commercial outfits look great, how potential customers find you matters. For builders especially, people want to see evidence that you can do the job well. Paul says creating a content plan to update your socials regularly will keep you front of mind and boost business growth. Think before-and-after photos of your work, client testimonials and behind-the-scenes videos. “Having a great website and socials that match are important touchpoints when people are deciding who they’re going to work with,” he says. 

Plan equipment upgrades

Snapping up new gear right before the end of the financial year to save on tax can reap rewards. Paul also suggests keeping an eye out for deals all year round, including the Black Friday sales. “A lot of the suppliers have specials on at different times of the year, so it’s about factoring that into your business planning for the year,” he says. “If you’re looking to use finance, make sure you get your financing in position early on.”

Schedule staff check-ins

Paul suggests scheduling quarterly check-ins with each member of your team as part of an overall training and development plan. You might discuss progress, address any challenges and chat about individual goal setting for the months ahead. “It’s about having an ongoing conversation around the plan that you’ve got in place for each person,” he says, explaining that some people will be keen to take on more responsibility while others might be happy “doing what they’re doing”. 

Think about pricing

You may not decide to raise your prices, but it’s still a good idea to reflect on them at the start of the year, according to Paul. “Materials, overheads and those types of costs can sneak up on you during the year, so it’s helpful to review where your numbers are at. Did you see a change in your gross margins? Do you need to make any changes leading into the second half of the financial year?”

Look at staffing

January is an ideal time to see how much work you have in the pipeline and whether you have enough people to get it done. If business growth is part of your goal setting for the year, it’s especially important to consider how you’ll manage a bigger workload. “At this time of year, you have time to look at the possibilities and create some potential scenarios,” Paul says. You might think about when to bring on extra people and what sort of experience you’ll need. 

Consider branching out

Take stock of what’s happening across the industry and think about how you’ll respond this year. For example, Paul says a new government program from the Clean Energy Regulator helping homeowners install batteries for solar is leading to a dramatic increase in demand for tradies working in solar. “What do you do: keep going with the work you’ve got or take advantage and grow your team and your offerings?” he asks. 

Want some more free business advice?

Check out our story on how to train and support apprentices. 

The information in this article is general in nature. It doesn’t take into account your specific financial position, needs or circumstances. You should look at your own financial position, objectives and requirements and seek professional advice before making any financial decisions.