Alongside the day-to-day activity, there is a bigger question that deserves attention: What do you want 2026 to look like for you, your leadership team and your business?
Defining the future you want
One of the most important reflections for any founder is the idea of ‘defining enough’. What does success look like for you next year? What level of growth feels sustainable? Where should your time and energy be focused?
These themes came through strongly in our recent Evolve to Succeed podcast episode with Declan O’Toole. He highlighted the importance of clarity, purpose and designing a business that supports your life, rather than consuming it. With economic pressures, leadership fatigue and rapid change continuing into 2026, this reflection is becoming increasingly valuable.
What the Autumn Budget 2025 means for SMEs
This year’s Autumn Budget created a mixed environment for small and medium-sized businesses. Some measures offer support, while others add new cost pressures. Below is a summary of the changes most relevant to SMEs.
Positive measures
- Additional support for apprenticeships and training for under-25s. This may help SMEs develop future talent.
- Reform of business rates for smaller premises. Many smaller organisations, including retail and hospitality, can expect some relief when new rules start in 2026.
Challenges to prepare for
- The National Living Wage will rise again from April 2026. This will increase employment costs for many SMEs.
- Income tax and National Insurance thresholds will remain frozen until at least 2031. This will gradually pull more individuals, including owner-directors, into higher tax bands.
- Dividend and savings income tax rates will rise from April 2026. Owner-managed businesses will need to factor this into future planning and cashflow.
- Liquidity pressures may increase. With rising employment costs and continued economic uncertainty, accurate forecasting and strong financial management are becoming more important than ever.
Overall, the Budget reinforced the need for early planning, strategic thinking and strong financial leadership.
Planning ahead gives you choice, control, confidence and continuity. A reactive approach rarely produces the best outcome, whether you are planning to grow, restructure or eventually exit.
Is your business ready for the year you want?
As you prepare for 2026, consider the following:
- Is your business structure aligned to the goals you want to achieve next year, particularly with increased wage and tax pressures?
- Does your leadership team have the capacity and capability needed for the next phase?
- Are there opportunities for growth, acquisition, diversification or investment – that you are not currently exploring?
- If you wanted to exit or step back within the next two-to-three years, would your business be ready?
- Which areas need strengthening now to create future resilience, for example cashflow forecasting, management reporting, operational planning or leadership development?
These are not exit questions. They are healthy business questions. Planning for the future improves the performance and value of a business at any stage.
Make 2026 a year of intentional growth
Now is the ideal time to pause, reflect and plan before the new year begins.
At Evolve, we support business owners to:
- Create structured growth and expansion plans that reflect the post-Budget environment
- Identify opportunities to strengthen resilience and profitability
- Develop leadership capability and team alignment
- Understand and compare future exit routes, even if they are years away
- Build a business that is valuable, not just operational
We also offer event space and meeting rooms for strategy days, leadership sessions and facilitated planning workshops. This creates a dedicated environment to step away from the day-to-day and focus on the future.
Start the conversation
Whether your priority for 2026 is growth, resilience, leadership alignment or long-term succession, planning early will help you make confident decisions. If you are ready to explore what comes next, or simply would like to understand your options, we are here to help.
You can also listen to our recent podcast with Declan O’Toole, which offers powerful insights into redefining success and designing the future you want.
Shape 2026 on your terms.
