We talk a lot about New Year’s resolutions for our personal lives, but not enough about the resolutions that matter just as much — the ones for our businesses.
The new year is the perfect time to evaluate what we want to improve and take steps in the right direction for both our personal and professional lives.
If you have a list of business updates and improvements you want to make but have been putting off, this is your sign to take action.
Here are five New Year’s resolutions every business owner should set. These steps will help you save money, protect your business, and increase profitability in 2026.
#1) Audit your recurring payments.
You aren’t alone if you signed up for a subscription you no longer use, but are still paying for. It’s easy to sign up for a free demo or low-cost introductory subscription and forget about the payment as the cost increases and your use of the product decreases.
At the beginning of the year, take time to audit your recurring payments.
- Make a list of monthly and annual payments. The list should include subscriptions, software, tools, and vendor contracts.
- Consider the frequency of use. Do you still use it? How often?
- Consider the plan. Can you downgrade your plan and still get what you need?
- Consider the cost. Can you contact the company and negotiate a lower cost? Many companies will offer a discount to keep you from cancelling.
- Consider competitors. Is there a competitor offering a service more aligned with your needs at a better cost?
In 2026, many costs are expected to rise. Don’t automatically fall into price increases. Save money by reviewing your services and making adjustments to keep costs down.
#2) Check commercial lease agreements (in Florida).
If you run a business in Florida, be aware that laws regulating commercial rental properties have changed. Starting October 1, 2025, Florida is no longer collecting sales tax on commercial rentals.
If you rent commercial property in Florida, make sure you are no longer paying rental tax. Check your records and update your financial processes. If you find that you have already paid tax for rental periods after October 1, request a refund from your landlord. Do not request a refund from the Department of Revenue. It is the obligation of your landlord to refund you.
If you own commercial rental property in Florida, make sure you are no longer collecting tax from renters. Ensure you paid tax up until October 2025. If you collected tax from renters after October, refund the payments directly to renters.
For more information, check out our guide on Florida Commercial Rental Tax Changes.
#3) Review your bookkeeping processes.
Business owners are busy. When tasks pile up on their plate, bookkeeping is one of the activities that often gets pushed to the side.
Skipping over regular bookkeeping tasks may seem like a time-saver in the moment, but it can come back to haunt you. Inaccurate, incomplete books make it impossible to analyze the cash flow and financial stability of your company in real-time. And bad books can even lead to tax errors, fines, and penalties.
The new year is a good time to set up processes so your bookkeeping doesn’t get left behind.
- Set up systems to enter all income and expenses. Make sure you aren’t missing expenses that are tax deductions or under-representing income.
- Set up files to save receipts and records for all expenses. Create systems for saving physical receipts as well as digital records.
- Make sure more than one person knows how to manage your books. One gatekeeper to your books can cause roadblocks if that person gets sick or quits. Make sure your processes are documented and that multiple people have access to your records.
To make sure all aspects of your bookkeeping are in order, check out our list of the 10 Most Common Bookkeeping Mistakes Small Business Owners Make.
#4) Move your bookkeeping to the cloud.
While you’re updating your bookkeeping, make a change to keep your books secure for the future. If you’re using an outdated, on-site accounting software, now is the time to move it to the cloud. Many small businesses put off moving their books because they think the effort is not worth the reward.
But migrating your books is no longer optional. It’s essential in today’s digital world.
Using accounting systems that are on-premise or desktop solutions leaves you open to potential problems with data security, hardware failures, theft, or improper backups. It also limits software access and makes your business more difficult to sell or scale. See why CFO2U always recommends QuickBooks Online to our clients.
#5) Audit your technology.
Protecting your business by improving your technology doesn’t end with your accounting software. Take time at the beginning of the year to make sure you have security in mind for all of your technology.
- Audit your passwords. Do you have all passwords documented in your files? Do any passwords need to be reset if they haven’t been used in a while?
- Audit account access. Do you have access to all of your platforms, profiles, and tools? Sometimes, business owners work with third parties who set up accounts and fail to pass over login information. Make sure this hasn’t happened to you.
- Confirm backups. Do you have systems for backing up important information and tools, such as your website or client database?
- Check on software updates. Is your software updated to the latest versions? Failing to update software can leave you vulnerable to hackers and malware.
Don’t wait until you have an issue to realize you need to make changes to your technology. Get ahead of problems to prevent them.
Set Your Business Up for More Success in 2026
Make 2026 the year you take your business to the next level.
Save money, protect your business, and increase profits in 2026. Embrace these New Year’s resolutions for your business.
If you’re ready to streamline, secure, and simplify your business in 2026, CFO2U is here to help. Talk to us about how our team of expert bookkeepers can take over tedious accounting tasks to give you time back to make other improvements to your business.
CFO2U is here to be a partner in your growth. Schedule your consultation with our team today. Monthly bookkeeping support packages start at just $300/month.
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