Get Ahead Before Q4 Chaos Hits

Are you like me and wondering how on earth it’s already September? In just a few short weeks, we’ll be starting the 4th quarter. It feels like we just rang in 2025!

For many businesses, especially family-owned ones, the final quarter of the year is the busiest and most profitable. It’s when a big chunk of annual revenue rolls in, big deals close, and year-end deadlines pile up. We all go into Q4 with the best intentions:

• This will be the year we stay ahead.

• We’ll finally wrap up those long-postponed projects.

• We’ll start building our strategic plan for the year ahead.

Sound familiar? But here’s what really happens: the chaos of Q4 takes over. Client needs spike, unexpected issues pop up, and suddenly all that strategic planning for next year gets done in a rush, if it gets done at all.

Let’s break that cycle. This September, take advantage of the relative calm before the storm to prepare for Q4 and the year ahead. By moving key tasks forward now, you’ll enter the busiest season with less stress and more clarity.

Actions Founders Can Take in September

1. Block Strategic Planning Time Now
   Set aside at least one uninterrupted half-day in September to work on 2026 goals. Protect it like you would a client meeting.

2. Draft Next Year’s Budget
   Start with revenue targets and layer in major expenses you know are coming (technology upgrades, hiring, marketing campaigns). Fine-tune later, but get the framework in place now.

3. Review Hiring Needs
   Identify gaps in your team and whether you’ll need new hires in Q1. Starting recruitment before the holiday season gives you a head start.

4. Reconnect with Top Clients
   Schedule check-ins or appreciation touchpoints now before year-end gets hectic. This helps strengthen relationships and uncover new opportunities.

5. Clear the Backlog
   Wrap up lingering admin work, overdue invoices, or low-priority projects so they don’t distract you in Q4.
   

6. Review & Refresh Your Strategic Roadmap
   Update your 3 - 5 year vision with what you’ve learned this year. Small tweaks now prevent rushed decisions later.
   

7. Map Q4 Revenue Opportunities
   Identify the deals, campaigns, or seasonal pushes that will drive your year-end numbers and make sure resources are already in place to execute them.

By front-loading some of the heavy lifting now, you’ll start Q4 ready to maximize revenue, hit year-end goals, and step into next year with a clear plan, rather than a foggy, “I’ll-figure-it-out-in-January” scramble.

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