4th Quarter Planning for 2026
The end of summer always catches me off guard. One minute, I’m enjoying that final long Labor Day weekend; the next, the calendar page flips to September, football is on TV, and, while I see the flowers in my garden are still blooming, I know they’ll soon be cut back. That’s when it hits me: the fourth quarter has arrived, and it’s time to plan for 2026.
With the fourth quarter’s arrival, business leaders know it’s time to take stock of their progress, readjust priorities, and get the business set up for a successful new year. For 2026 planning, this period isn’t just about tying up loose ends; it’s about building momentum that carries you into the future.
Pause, Reflect, and Realign
There’s a natural opportunity to take a step back and evaluate after the summer months. Ask yourself:
What goals did you set for your business at the start of the year?
Where do you stand in achieving them?
How does your performance compare to prior years?
These questions aren’t just about looking backward; they help you determine what’s working, what needs adjustment, and where to focus in the months ahead. A clear-eyed review of your goals and progress provides the foundation for effective fourth-quarter planning.
Looking Back to Move Forward
At Slater Success, we take this time each year to pause and reflect. For 2025, we completed two major projects -- publishing my latest book, Best of the Best - Lead Boldly, Scale Rapidly, Create Your Legacy, and developing a new legal podcast series by curating interviews with expert resources.
The Best of the Best
I sat down to write Best of the Best to help business owners overcome real-life challenges by “Leading Boldly, Scaling Rapidly, and Creating Lasting Legacies.” I didn’t want to focus on theoretical ideas; instead, it’s centered on the core demands of business. I outlined practical, hands-on strategies that work, regardless of what’s happening in the outside world.
We relied on a host of professionals to get a book like Best of the Best written, published, and supported:
We spent two years interviewing business leaders about their successes,
Bettyanne Green, Ghostwriting for Business,
Rebecca Hall Gruyter, CEO, RHG Media Productions,
The extraordinary team at Slater Success.
Legal Series of Podcasts
After years of working with clients in the legal space, I’ve realized something essential: You don’t need to have all the answers, but you do need to know where to find the resources. That’s why I created something I’ve never done before: a Legal Podcast Series through Her Success Story, solely focused on resources great law firms leverage to scale.
I curated a lineup of podcast guests that provide exactly that:
🔍 SEO, content, and online marketing experts
👥 Hiring experts who understand team fit and culture
🤖 AI pioneers sharing how technology is transforming operations
🎯 Legal pros providing insights relevant to any business.
Key Areas to Review: The Four Pillars
A practical way to approach fourth-quarter planning is by evaluating what I call the four “pillars” of your business strategy:
Finances: Have an early discussion with your CPA, CFO, and bookkeeper to avoid surprises during tax season. Review your revenue forecasts, expense trends, and tax obligations now. I spent the week before Labor Day reviewing these numbers and then genuinely enjoyed the holiday, as I had a clear financial perspective on my business.
Marketing: Which campaigns and/or strategies have been most effective this year? Where have you observed ROI? Are there opportunities to repurpose or boost what’s already working? Did anything surprise you, and how are you using this information?
Sales: Assess what’s working and what’s not. Identify your top clients, analyze their lifetime value, and consider how you can strengthen these relationships while nurturing new leads.
Team: Assess how your team is performing and what support they need to meet year-end goals. Team alignment is essential for execution and morale.
Action Steps: Finish Strong and Build for 2026
To make the most of the fourth quarter, follow these five steps:
Review: Evaluate the goals and objectives you established for the year.
Track: Assess your current position and how you’ve been tracking progress.
Analyze: Use your numbers to identify successes and failures across finances, marketing, sales, and team dynamics.
Plan: Set a clear action plan with specific deadlines for what must be accomplished by year-end.
Execute: Follow through on these plans and hold yourself and your team accountable.
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Closing Thought: Strategy Always Pays Off
Your business needs a clear strategy, teamwork, and consistent execution. Avoid becoming a “Hindsight Critic” who reflects on what could have been. Instead, take charge of 2026 planning now. Align your goals, engage your team, and leverage your resources to finish 2025 strong.