Diandra Ko Written by Diandra Ko Early in a new year is a good time for business owners to reflect on the state of their business and the factors that matter most to their success. The most successful companies will be those with leaders who are keenly versed in knowing cost structures, focused on core competencies and who understand the market. These fundamental skill sets can equate to successful bottom lines, regardless of your specific industry or economic conditions. Given this, here are a few steps small business leaders can take to start the new year strong. Update your business plan Regularly reviewing and adapting your business plan is critical to ensure you’re operating in a realistic and nimble manner. When updating a business plan, there are a few best practices to keep in mind. Compare last year’s business performance to prior years by checking sales results and marketing tactics to spot trends. This will help you determine the best strategies in 2024. Keep your budget in mind and ensure you are updating salaries, your projections, any fixed costs and money you’ve used to grow your business over the past year. Seek feedback from others when updating your business plan. Speak with your employees, your customers and fellow business owners to get a sense of what’s working well and what needs to be changed to perform better this year. Evaluate your customer service offerings. At the end of the day, you want to make sure you’re keeping the customer happy, so look at your strategies, such as loyalty programs, to ensure you’re creating repeat customers. Evaluate your working capital One resource that almost all business owners will need is capital – be it from efficiencies and cost reductions or from your bank or the SBA. In Fresno and Visalia, Bank of America small business lending is steadily increasing year over year coming out of the pandemic, with more than $121 million currently extended to local small businesses. Such growth reflects continued business confidence as well as an ongoing appetite for capital. But despite such demand, some entrepreneurs may face difficulties obtaining capital. For some, taking on additional debt through traditional bank loans may not necessarily be the best fit for your evolving business needs. This is where business grants that do not need to be repaid can help bolster your small business finances. Also, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) can be helpful sources of capital for underserved entrepreneurs. If you’re looking for somewhere to start, ask your banker or visit Bank of America’s Access to Capital Directory, which offers a variety of free and low-cost capital resources to consider. Recruit and retain talent It’s important to evaluate your hiring or retention processes, as nearly half of small business owners are impacted by labor shortages, according to Bank of America’s 2023 Women & Minority Business Owner Spotlight, often leading to entrepreneurs working more hours and raising wages. Whether it’s sourcing candidates, setting a clear employee growth timeline, or creating an internship program, businesses can explore various ways to bring candidates to the interview table. As talent acquisition grows increasingly competitive, our bankers have also been working with more businesses to offer benefits packages as additional ways to recruit and retain top talent. The new year is also a great time to recognize your current team to set a positive tone for the year ahead. Take time in the new year to set S.M.A.R.T. expectations and goals for your team – meaning goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. If you haven’t already, it’s also important to acknowledge the great work your team did in the prior year, which can serve as a motivating factor for growth in 2024. As the nation’s top small business lender that has served Fresno and Visalia for more than 100 years, Bank of America is proud to offer these steps that can help put your business on the path to a strong and successful 2024. Diandra Ko is vice president, small business banker manager, with Bank of America Fresno and Visalia.
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