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The first 30 days of the year set the tone for everything that follows. We all have our priorities and what we feel is important heading into the new year so this isn’t an all inclusive listing, but a few thing I think can help you.
Businesses that start January with clear financial focus gain momentum fast. Businesses that wait to “see how things go” spend the rest of the year catching up. The difference is not effort, but intention.
Here is a simple, realistic plan to keep your business financially focused during the first 30 days of 2026.
Week 1: Establish Cash Visibility
Start the year by confirming where cash actually stands. Reconcile bank and credit card accounts so balances are accurate. Post all outstanding cash so receivables reflect reality. Clean visibility on day one prevents confusion later.
I’m big on daily cash posting, daily balancing, and review. If you have any sort of volume within your business right now, that’s important in my opinion and I’d say most CFO’s/Controllers and other leaders would agree.
Week 2: Lock in Receivables Discipline
Review your AR aging in detail. Identify slow payers and high-risk accounts. Set a weekly follow-up rhythm and confirm payment dates. Early pressure keeps January cash flowing. Still time right now to close your year out strong if you are proactive. LOCK IN.
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Week 3: Control Spending and Payables
Review vendor balances and upcoming bills. Schedule payments intentionally based on cash availability. Pause nonessential spending and evaluate vendor pricing. Protecting cash early gives flexibility later. You also need to make sure what you’re spending makes sense and is for the business. I ran across 2 scenarios this year where no boundaries were set for spending and it crushed Q3 for both of these businesses.
Week 4: Review Financial Statements and Adjust
Run your Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement. Look for trends, gaps, and surprises. Adjust pricing, collections strategy, or spending plans while changes are still easy to make.
End of Month: Set the Tone for the Year
January is not about perfection, but more about discipline. Establishing consistent financial habits early creates confidence and control. The goal is not to react faster, but to prevent problems altogether. Be proactive in all that you do and watch how it impacts across your business. Trust me.
Strong businesses do not drift into success. They plan for it. If you want help building your first 30 days of financial focus so 2026 starts with clarity instead of chaos, reply to this message. I can help you put structure in place that lasts all year.
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