Q4 Advice for Business Owners

September Strategy: A Panel of Strategic Business Advisors Share Recommendations for a Powerful Q4

Running a business takes more than industry expertise, it requires ongoing reflection, performance measurement, and the ability to adapt in the face of any business climate. As we enter the final quarter of 2025, it’s a natural moment to pause, take stock of the year so far, and chart a clear course forward. To help you make the most of this pivotal season, we’ve gathered a panel of B2B CFO® Partners, including myself, who share strategies and timely advice designed to help business owners use this time wisely, to finish strong and plan for the year ahead.

Art Bottoms, B2B CFO ^® Partner
Take Stock of the Owner’s KPI: Mental Clarity and Personal Balance
We measure revenue, profitability, cash flow, and customer retention, but what about the business owner’s state of mind? This season, owners should carve out time to retreat, recharge, and refocus. Art Bottoms shares, “Business owners carve out so much time for everyone and everything but themselves.  If they are the captain of the ship, it’s important that they get to recharge so they can prepare for the unchartered waters ahead. This is the perfect time to reflect on what’s worked, what hasn’t, and the wins you’ve achieved. Step away from the daily grind of the business to reimagine the company you want to build.”

Art encourages owners to measure your own leadership growth and passion for running the business. The business owner’s energy, positivity, and balance directly impact all areas of the company.  Schedule intentional time away from the office to really think clearly about why the business exists, who you serve, and what makes your company different. It could be a weekend retreat or a quiet afternoon offsite.  “Physical distance from your business creates mental space to reflect without distraction. It’s in these quiet moments that clarity often emerges.”

Steve Nevin, B2B CFO ^® Partner
Forecast with Precision
One of the most powerful tools in a business owner’s arsenal is a detailed forecast. “As we enter Q4, I urge clients to build a month-by-month roadmap for the coming year,” shares Steve. He recommends starting by reviewing your current year’s performance and identifying key goals for growth, investment, and improvement. Break those goals into actionable monthly milestones, including projected revenue, expenses, staffing needs, and strategic initiatives. Align each month’s plan with seasonal trends, industry cycles, and internal priorities to ensure consistent progress and adaptability. Include planned investments in personnel, technology, and infrastructure.

For those with profit-sharing plans, define your target EBITDA and allocate your profit-sharing pool accordingly. A clear forecast transforms ambition into action and sets the tone for a disciplined, data-driven year ahead. “The fourth quarter is also the ideal time to revisit assumptions, challenge outdated models, and incorporate lessons learned from the current year.”

Kim Sherman, B2B CFO^® Partner
Reflect, Refine, Reignite
As we enter the final quarter of the year, there’s a familiar sense of renewal that often feels more like a fresh start than January itself. Kim Sherman encourages leaders to begin Q4 by celebrating what’s gone well. “Recognizing wins, big or small, fosters gratitude and shifts focus away from what didn’t go as planned,” she shares. “It’s a powerful way to energize your team and build momentum heading into year-end.”

Kim also recommends taking a hard look at year-to-date performance by reviewing financials, identify opportunities for strategic planning and tax positioning, and engage your team in honest reflection.  A simple start-stop-continue exercise can help clarify priorities and align

efforts for the year ahead. She cautions against letting short-term urgency distract from long-term vision: Extend your projections into 2026 and beyond. Ask what resources you’ll need, and who needs to be on board to make it happen.

“Don’t wait for December to start thinking about taxes and audits. Meet with your CPA now to prepare and complete filings early so you can focus on next year’s initiatives.” She also recommends reviewing lending covenants to ensure you’re well-positioned for line-of-credit renewals, especially if growth is on the horizon. With compensation planning, pricing, and insurance renewals taking center stage, she reminds leaders not to overlook their tax position.  Take time to evaluate whether key initiatives and expenses should land this year or next and act early enough to plan accordingly for budgetary plans.

David Wood, B2B CFO ^® Partner
Get Clarity on Three Main Objectives
David recommends business owners to treat the fourth quarter not as a wind-down, but as a strategic checkpoint, which is why strategic planning is so critical. When he meets with his business owner clients to strategize for Q4, there are usually three key questions they drill into: Are we on track to meet our budgeted targets, and if not, what’s driving the gap? What lessons from the first three quarters should inform our planning for 2026? And have we clearly communicated our Q4 priorities across all departments to ensure alignment and execution?  “These questions help leaders shift from reactive to proactive, ensuring that year-end decisions are grounded in insight and geared toward long-term success,” David shares.

Marc Shirley, B2B CFO ^® Partner
Benchmark to Define, Compare, and Differentiate
As Q4 begins, it’s the perfect time to step back and assess your competitive position. Strategic benchmarking through competitive analysis and SWOT exercises helps uncover performance gaps, validate assumptions, and sharpen your market edge.  From there, define what truly sets your company apart, what is working and what is draining resources. Marc Shirley advises: “Really work on understanding and addressing your strengths, weaknesses, and competitive landscape. Use that insight to craft messaging and explore how to best capitalize on your core services and products in a way that resonates and differentiates so you can carry that into the coming years.”

When you know what you do best and communicate it with precision, you create a foundation for meaningful growth. Benchmarking is a diagnostic tool, but more importantly, it’s a launchpad for strategic evolution.

September Momentum: Reimagine What’s Possible
As the year enters its final chapter, this season invites business owners to pause—not just to reflect on what’s been accomplished, but to thoughtfully consider what lies ahead. It’s a time to realign with your vision, recalibrate your goals, and make intentional decisions that shape the future of your business.

At B2B CFO® our mission is simple yet profound: to improve the lives of business owners. We do this by offering financial expertise and strategic business partnerships. We listen deeply to challenges, aspirations, and concerns of every business owner client. Then, together, we craft strategic, action plans designed to build long-term value and consistent success.