Key actions to supercharge your business in 2026

A lot of business planning fails for one reason: it is too vague to execute.

A “growth strategy” only becomes real when it turns into numbers, priorities, owners, and weekly actions that the team can repeat.

Use the 10 actions below as your 2026 planning checklist. You can work through them over two focused sessions, then convert them into a one page plan and a simple weekly rhythm.

Start with an honest baseline and sharpen your strategy

Before you set targets, get brutally clear on what is really happening in the business: profit, cash, customer mix, margins, and what is driving results. The fastest way to build a credible 2026 plan is to start with a proper profit and pricing picture, then layer strategy on top of the facts.

Actions to take

•  Pull and review the last 12 months financials (profit and loss, balance sheet, cashflow) and isolate the real drivers of revenue and profit growth.
•  Sense check margin movement by separating genuine growth from price led growth, and assess how supplier increases and pricing decisions have affected gross profit.
•  Kick start your plan with a Gross Profit and Pricing Healthcheck so you can see exactly where profit is being gained or leaked, and turn that insight into specific actions for 2026.
•  List your top constraints (people, capacity, working capital, pipeline, systems), then decide the single biggest strategic problem to solve first based on what the numbers tell you.

Tools you can use:
•  Gross Profit and Pricing Healthcheck: (quickest way to quantify real growth vs price increases, margin impact, and profit improvement opportunities). Find out more here
•  Business analysis frameworks: SWOT, PESTLE, Porter’s Five Forces

Turn goals into a 12 month plan with numbers and owners

Goals only work when they become specific numbers, deadlines, and named owners. Your plan should translate ambition into an achievable 12 month pathway.

Actions to take

•  Set 3 to 5 outcomes for 2026 (profit, cash, sales, capacity, customer goals).
•  Break each outcome into quarterly milestones.
•  Assign one accountable owner per milestone.

Tool you can use:
One-page plan including objectives, numbers, owners, and key projects.

Build a cash and margin engine, not just a sales target

Growth that does not generate cash creates stress. Your 2026 plan should include a cashflow forecast and margin focus so growth is sustainable.

Actions to take

•  Build a rolling 12 month cashflow forecast.
•  Identify the cash pinch points (VAT, tax, stock build, payroll, debtors).
•  Decide your top 3 cash actions: debtor days, stock turns, pricing, overhead control.

Tool you can use:
Weekly cash flow forecasting template. Download here

Tighten your value proposition so you can win on value, not price

If your value proposition is unclear, your sales conversations drift toward price. In 2026, clarity here protects margin and improves conversion.

Actions to take

•  Write your value proposition in one paragraph: who it is for, the problem, the outcome, and why you.
•  Pressure test it with 5 customers or lost prospects.
•  Build a short list of proof points: results, case studies, guarantees, processes.

Tool you can use:
Value proposition canvas (problem, promise, proof)

Build a predictable lead and sales pipeline

Most growth plans fail because the lead measures are missing. You need weekly activity targets that drive the pipeline, not just a yearly sales number.

Actions to take

•  Define lead measures for your business (outreach, meetings, proposals, follow ups).
•  Set weekly targets per person or per team.
•  Build a visible pipeline review cadence.

Tool you can use:
Simple pipeline dashboard and weekly sales meeting agenda

Systemise delivery and drive productivity

Growth exposes weak delivery systems. The fastest path to capacity is usually better processes, fewer errors, and higher productivity.

Actions to take

•  Identify the 3 biggest time drains and rework sources.
•  Document the critical process steps as a simple checklist.
•  Set one measurable productivity improvement target per department.

Tool you can use:
SOP checklists plus a productivity ratio (gross profit vs wage cost)

Upgrade reporting so you can steer the business, not just survive it

If you do not have timely monthly numbers, you are guessing. Monthly management accounts and variance analysis create control.

Actions to take

•  Define what your management accounts pack must include.
•  Add a simple monthly review meeting with clear actions.
•  Track budget vs actual with owners for key cost lines.

Tool you can use:
Monthly management accounts pack plus variance actions list

Set the right KPIs and make them visible

KPIs only work if they are few, relevant, and reviewed weekly. Make them visible, keep them simple, and connect them to action.

Actions to take

•  Pick 5 to 10 KPIs across profit, cash, sales, marketing, andoperations.
•  Define the owner and the review frequency for each.
•  Create a scoreboard that the team can see.

Tool you can use:
Balanced KPI scorecard plus a weekly scoreboard

Invest in people capability and alignment

Execution improves when roles are clear, expectations are measurable, and the team is trained for the plan you are asking them to deliver.

Actions to take

•  Clarify roles and expectations for key people.
•  Set a simple quarterly development plan for critical roles.
•  Improve communication rhythm so the team stays aligned.

Tool you can use:
Role scorecards plus a quarterly training plan

Build a weekly execution rhythm and accountability

Plans succeed when the business has a non negotiable cadence: a weekly check in, clear actions, and follow through.

Actions to take

•  Run a weekly leadership meeting with the same agenda: scorecard, priorities, issues, actions.
•  Keep actions owned, dated, and reviewed next week.
•  Add a quarterly reset to refresh priorities.

Tool you can use:
Weekly scorecard meeting agenda plus action log.
 

Why plan with Oldfield?

Oldfield Advisory has guided owner-managed UK businesses for nearly 50 years through growth phases, market shifts and changing financial conditions. That experience helps clients turn planning into execution, with clear numbers, clear priorities and a practical rhythm that keeps progress on track. If you want a 2026 plan that is measurable, realistic and built around what actually drives profit and cash, we can help you build the one-page strategy, strengthen cashflow forecasting and reporting, set the right KPIs, and embed a weekly accountability cadence so the plan does not sit on a shelf.

If you would like to discuss your 2026 growth strategy, contact your adviser to arrange a strategic planning review. Otherwise, reach out via the form below to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should a 2026 business plan include for a UK SME?
A: A clear set of outcomes (profit, cash, sales, capacity), a small number of key projects, named owners, and a weekly cadence to review KPIs and actions.

Q: Do I really need a cashflow forecast if I am profitable?
A: Yes. Profit and cash are not the same. A forecast helps you spot pinch points early and plan for VAT, tax, stock, payroll, and debtor timing.

Q: How many KPIs should I track?
A: Usually 5 to 10 is enough, covering profit, cash, sales, marketing, and operations. Too many KPIs reduce focus and dilute accountability.

Q: How often should I review the plan?
A: Weekly for KPIs and actions, monthly for management accounts and budget variance, quarterly for a deeper reset of priorities.

Q: What is the fastest way to improve productivity?
A: Remove rework and manual admin first, then standardise critical processes with checklists and clear ownership, supported by basic productivity measures.

Please note: This article is for general information purposes only It does not constitute financial or tax advice. Tax rules can change, and the correct approach will depend on your specific circumstances. You should seek advice from a suitably qualified professional before taking action.