Your Year-End Business Checklist: 10 Essential Tasks
The end of the year is the perfect time to wrap up loose ends, evaluate your business’s performance and plan for a strong start to the new year.
At BGR, we know that this period can feel like a whirlwind – between closing books, managing staff and preparing for the holidays, it’s easy for important tasks to slip through the cracks. That’s why we’ve created this practical checklist to help you finish the year with confidence.
“Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing, but of reflection.” — Winston Churchill
It’s November Already, Time to Get Strategic
As the festive season approaches, resist the urge to rush. Instead, take a step back to review your progress, reflect on your goals, and set the foundation for a productive year ahead.
This checklist will help you focus on what matters most before December arrives. And if you’d like a customised version tailored to your business, our team is here to help, because no two businesses are exactly alike.
Your 10-Step Year-End Business Checklist
1. Back Up Your Data
Ensure all important data, accounting records, client information and emails, is safely backed up. Keep one copy securely in the cloud and another offline (for example, on an encrypted external hard drive). A few minutes spent now can prevent hours of stress later.
2. Review Employee Matters
Update employee details, system access, and permissions. Conduct performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and celebrate exceptional contributions. Recognising your team’s efforts is the perfect way to close out the year on a positive note.
3. Connect with Your Customers
Send festive greetings and let clients know your holiday operating hours. Encourage them to share feedback about their experience this year. Set up an out-of-office notification across email and social platforms, including key dates and an emergency contact number.
4.Understand Your Financial Position
Review your management accounts, including your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement, to assess profitability, expense patterns, and financial health. This insight is crucial for strategic planning and sustainable growth in the year ahead.
5. Review Your Tax Position
Take stock of your tax obligations, liabilities, deductions, and credits. Staying informed about your position before year-end helps you plan cash flow more effectively and avoid last-minute surprises.
6. Reflect on Marketing and Sales Performance
Evaluate what worked this year and what didn’t. Which campaigns performed best? Which sales strategies fell short? Understanding these insights now will shape more effective marketing decisions in 2026.
7. Collect Outstanding Invoices
Send out December invoices early and follow up on unpaid accounts. Boosting year-end cash flow allows your business to start January with a clean slate and fewer financial pressures.
8. Verify Supplier Information
Update your supplier list, confirm contact details, and reassess your supplier relationships. This is also an ideal time to negotiate better terms or explore new partnerships for the year ahead.
9. Take Stock
Perform a physical inventory count of equipment, supplies, and stock. This ensures accurate records, supports tax and insurance documentation, and highlights opportunities for repairs or upgrades. Choose a specific day for your count, organise the space, and calculate total values carefully.
10. Audit Your Digital Presence
Visit your website as if you were a client, test every link, review contact forms, and ensure your phone number and email addresses work correctly. Then, update your social media profiles to reflect any changes to your team, services, or contact information.
Start 2026 on the Right Foot
Once you’ve wrapped up 2025 successfully, shift your focus to the year ahead. Use your financial reports, marketing insights, customer feedback, and team input to review progress against last year’s goals and to set clear, actionable targets for 2026.
Create a simple action plan for each goal to guide decision-making and measure progress throughout the year.
If you’d like expert support in preparing your year-end reports or developing your strategy for the year ahead, the BGR team is here to help you tick every box, efficiently, accurately and with peace of mind.