Creating your 2026 Business Plan: 8 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself

🏆 Welcome to This Week’s Profit First Accountant Newsletter!

🕐 Estimated Read Time: 8 Minutes

Hi Everyone,

It’s Stephen Edwards from Gro Profit First Accountants, and welcome to this week’s Profit First Accountant Newsletter.

As we head into Week 3 of 2026, there’s still plenty of time to step back and build a business plan that gives you clarity, direction, and a way to measure real progress.

Too often, planning gets neglected because people think it needs to be perfect or take too long. But a rough plan is better than no plan. That’s why this week we’re diving into a simple but powerful framework: the 8-Question Business Plan.

This approach works whether you’re a solo founder or running a growing team. You can do it in half a day, and it might be the most impactful thing you do this quarter.

Watch the full video here

✍️ The 8-Question Business Plan for 2026

Set aside 2–4 hours, block distractions, and get version one done. Planning is about clarity, not perfection.

1. What Are Your Core Values?

These are the non-negotiable beliefs that guide how your business operates—how you hire, how you serve customers, and how you make decisions.

💡 Think About:

• What behaviours are rewarded in your team?

• What traits annoyed you in past hires or clients?

• What would someone need to “get” to succeed in your business?

👉 Example: Our core values at Gro are “KAN”: Continuous Improvement, Above-the-Line Thinking, and No Eeyores. It sets the tone for how we show up and who we choose to work with.

Your core values create alignment, culture, and clarity. Start with 3 strong ones and refine over time.

2. What’s Your Core Focus?

This is your purpose, your niche, and your reason for existing. It defines who you help and how you help them best.

💡 Think About:

• What product or service do you do best?

• Who are your ideal customers?

• What’s the bigger mission behind the business?

👉 Avoid trying to be everything to everyone. Focus wins. Whether you're the best dog groomer for nervous rescue pets or the go-to marketing coach for yoga instructors—clarity here is powerful.

3. What’s Your 10-Year Target?

This is your “north star.” It helps you reverse-engineer where you need to be in 3 years, 1 year, and even this quarter.

💡 Think About:

• What would you be proud to have built?

• How much revenue/profit would make a real difference?

• What would your ideal role look like?

👉 Don’t stress about getting it perfect. If 10 years feels too far, aim for 5. Write something ambitious but exciting—and revisit it annually.

4. What’s Your Marketing Strategy?

A lack of clear marketing is why many businesses struggle. You need a plan that builds trust, attracts leads, and sets you apart.

Your marketing strategy has three key parts:

a. Your 3 Uniques – What makes you different?

💡 Think About:

• Your customer experience

• Your process

• Your background or expertise

b. Proven Process – How do clients work with you?

💡 Outline your service journey in 3–7 steps. Make it visual if possible. This builds confidence and clarity.

c. Guarantee – Can you offer a promise that removes risk?

💡 Example: “If you don’t save at least £1,000 in tax, you don’t pay.” Guarantees build trust and help you stand out.

5. What’s Your 3-Year Picture?

This is where you start connecting the vision to reality. What does the business look like in 2029?

💡 Think About:

• Revenue and profit numbers

• Team size and roles

• Number of clients, locations, or product lines

• What are you doing day-to-day?

👉 This gives you a clearer picture to share with your team or investors. It’s also your benchmark for growth.

6. What’s Your 1-Year Plan?

Zoom into 2026. What must happen for this to be a successful year?

💡 Think About:

• Key goals: New product launch? Team hire? New location?

• Revenue and profit targets

• Strategic projects

👉 Limit yourself to 1–7 priorities. Focus on impact. If it doesn’t move you closer to your 3-year picture, it doesn’t make the cut.

7. What Are Your Rocks (90-Day Goals)?

This is where strategy meets execution. Your “rocks” are the big things you commit to finishing in the next 90 days.

💡 Think About:

• What 2–5 outcomes would move you closer to your 1-year goals?

• What must happen before March ends?

👉 Schedule a 90-day planning session every quarter. Use a “rocks first” mindset—prioritise the big stuff before getting buried in day-to-day tasks.

8. What Are the Key Issues Holding You Back?

No plan is complete without acknowledging the roadblocks. These are the hidden weights slowing you down.

💡 Think About:

• Are you lacking time, cash, team, or leads?

• What’s draining your energy?

• What are you avoiding?

👉 Use the 80/20 rule. A few issues often cause most of the frustration. Identify the top 2–3—and commit to solving them this quarter.

✅ Final Step: Don’t Just Plan—Commit to Accountability

Here’s the truth: most plans end up buried in a drawer or desktop folder. The key is follow-through.

That’s why we meet many of our clients quarterly to review their goals, track financial progress, and reset their rocks.

In 2026, we’re launching new Accountability Coaching programs that are affordable and flexible—even if you’re early-stage. More info coming soon!

If you want a copy of our 2-page template, just drop me an email:
📩 [email protected]

Make this the year you plan like a pro and execute like a leader. Your future self will thank you.

All the best,
Stephen Edwards
Profit First Accountant and Business Coach
Gro Profit First Accountants

P.S. If you complete your 8-question plan, I’d love to see it. Email it to me or book a 15-minute review call—let’s keep you on track!

📗 Haven’t read my book yet?
Get your copy of How to Build a Business That Runs Without You on Amazon now.

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