Seven business tips to start 2026 on the right foot

A new year has a way of sneaking up on all of us. One minute you’re wrapping Christmas presents, the next you’re wondering how it’s January already. But getting ready for 2026 doesn’t need a grand reset or perfectly curated plan. A few small, thoughtful steps can make the year ahead feel a lot less intimidating.

So here are some simple, useful ideas to help you – and your business – step into 2026 with a bit more clarity and a lot less fuss.

1. Clear the decks (digitally, at least)

There’s no judgement from us, but if your desktop is starting to resemble a modern art project, perhaps now’s the time to:

• Archive or delete anything you no longer need.
• Tidy shared folders so the whole team can find what they’re looking for.
• Clear out apps, files and tabs that are quietly draining your focus.
• Restart key devices – it’s amazing what a reboot can fix.

A tidy workspace (physical or digital) helps you start the new year with a clearer head. How else do you plan to clean up your digital life this new year?

2. Look before you leap

Before you set big plans for 2026, think about what actually worked in 2025 – and maybe more importantly, what didn’t.

Try asking:

• Which tools, habits or processes made your life easier?
• What slowed you down more than it should have?
• Where did things keep breaking?
• What did you fix this year that you wish you’d fixed earlier?

This doesn’t need a workshop or a wall full of sticky notes. Five minutes of quiet reflection over a coffer works just as well.

3. Give your team a head start

A few small tweaks can make a real difference to how smoothly your team settles back into work.

• Check access and logins for shared platforms.
• Make sure your collaboration tools are up to date.
• Review hybrid working setups and remote access.
• Share a simple ‘what we’re focusing on first’ note for January.

All of this helps set expectations, reduce stress, and prevent people spending their first day back hunting for passwords.

4. Make life easier for your customers

A great customer experience often comes from tiny improvements:

• Check how long it takes you to reply to customer queries and complaints.
• Make sure that calls reach the right person.
• Double-check that your website loads quickly and gives accurate information.
• Ensure payments run smoothly.

Small changes can add up to a noticeably better experience. One that your customers will remember and keep coming back for.

5. Get better connected for a busy year

A reliable connection keeps everything else running – calls, payments, cloud apps, order systems, video meetings… the lot.

Here are a few things to check:

• Is your broadband connection fast enough for how your team works now? Would it benefit from a speed boost or full fibre upgrade?
• Would CloudComms give you more flexibility on days when the team is stretched.
• Is your online profile pulling its weight? If not, you might benefit from domains and web hosting.

6. Plan for the unexpected

You don’t need a big crisis plan. Just a clear idea of what you’d do if something went wrong.

• Who would you call?
• How would your team keep working?
• What would you prioritise?

Knowing the basics removes a lot of the panic from unexpected moments.

7. Set one small goal for January

It doesn’t have to be ambitious. Just one thing that would make life a bit easier for your team.

Something like:

• Improve how you share updates.
• Make a process simpler.
• Fix a bottleneck you’ve been ignoring.

A small win early in the year makes everything to come feel more achievable (the old “one bite at a time” line).

And finally…

Whatever 2025 threw at you, you made it this far. So cut yourself some slack and look forward to the new year with optimism.

And if you need us along the way, we’ll be right here, keeping you better connected.