New Year, New Financial Goals: Setting Your Business Up for Success in 2026

A new year brings new opportunities for growth, and a chance to realign your financial goals with where you want your business to go. At Froehling Anderson, we help businesses build financial clarity, strengthen performance, and create strategies that support long-term success. Whether you’re planning for expansion, improving profitability, or simply gaining more control over cash flow, the right financial goals can make all the difference.

Before setting new goals for 2026, start with a clear understanding of where your business stands today.

• Gather your key financial statements.
  Make sure your balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement are accurate and up to date. You can’t manage what you can’t measure, and accurate data is the foundation of every strong financial plan.
• Evaluate liquidity and cash reserves.
  Liquidity challenges are often the earliest signs of financial stress. Use financial ratios and industry benchmarks to get a realistic view of your cash position. Monitoring cash flow throughout the year helps you stay proactive rather than reactive.
• Identify your profit drivers.
  Every business has “profit engines”; products, services, or customer segments that generate the most value. Focus your growth efforts there, while reducing resources in low-return areas. The most successful companies are those that invest intentionally, not broadly.

Sometimes the best strategy for the future starts by looking backward.

Take time to celebrate and itemize the great work you and your team accomplished in 2025. This reflection can:

• Highlight strategies that produced measurable results
• Surface products, services, or markets that exceeded expectations
• Improve team morale and reinforce a culture of progress
• Provide clarity around realistic growth goals for 2026
• Reveal areas where you can stretch further or where improvements are needed

Understanding what worked well helps you repeat those successes with confidence.

Vague aspirations rarely drive meaningful progress. Instead, aim for clear, measurable targets such as:

• Increase new client acquisition by 15% in the first half of 2026
• Improve net profit margin from 10% to 14% by year-end
• Reduce outstanding debt balances
• Optimize cash flow to support large purchases or expansion plans

Once you establish your goals, build specific strategies and tracking methods. Use data to make informed decisions throughout the year so your goals become attainable milestones, not just hopeful intentions.

Setting goals is only the first step. Committing to a plan turns intentions into action.

Start with a thorough financial assessment, followed by a strategic planning retreat or leadership session. Establish timelines, assign responsibilities, and create checkpoints throughout the year. The more structured your plan, the more likely you are to achieve measurable results. In 2026, disciplined planning is a competitive advantage, especially for growing businesses.

One of the most overlooked components of effective financial planning is ongoing communication with your CPA. At Froehling Anderson, our trusted advisors work alongside business owners all year, not just during tax season.

Consistent communication with your CPA helps you:

• Plan for Tax Impacts
  Avoid surprises by understanding how new investments, growth initiatives, or staffing changes may affect your tax position. We help you maximize deductions, time purchases strategically, and prevent unnecessary penalties.
• Stay Compliant
  Large business changes may trigger new filing requirements, payroll adjustments, or multi-state tax obligations. Staying ahead of compliance protects you from time-consuming and costly issues.
• Ensure Accurate Financial Reporting
  Accurate financials are essential for decision-making, year-end planning, and securing financing. Poor reporting leads to poor decisions—our team helps keep your reporting clean and reliable.
• Streamline Lending and Financing Needs
  Lenders increasingly require up-to-date financials, strong cash flow statements, and reliable projections. Early communication with your CPA improves your ability to secure funding quickly and confidently.

As trusted CPA advisors in Minneapolis and St. Cloud, Minnesota, we provide more than tax preparation; we deliver clarity, strategy, and peace of mind.

Our team partners with business owners to:

• Build actionable financial plans
• Strengthen cash flow and profitability
• Improve reporting accuracy
• Support expansion, hiring, or acquisition plans
• Meet all federal, state, and local compliance requirements

With an experienced CPA by your side, your growth goals for 2026 become achievable, measurable, and aligned with your long-term success.

The new year is a fresh opportunity to create momentum for your business. With thoughtful planning, measurable financial goals, and a strategic approach, 2026 can be your strongest year yet.

We are here to help! Connect with our team today to begin planning your path forward.