Aspiring to grow your business in 2019? It’s vital to ensure your company has the right building blocks in place for a successful start to the new year.
Reviewing your 2018 performance, updating marketing materials, tossing out clutter, preparing for tax deadlines, confirming employee data, and evaluating your staff benefits packages can help get you on the right track for a successful 2019.
How Did Your Business Perform in 2018?
It’s important to review your business’s 2018 performance. Gather your leadership team and discuss the answers to the following questions.
- What were your 2018 business goals?
- Were those goals achieved?
- If so, what were the key factors that contributed to your growth?
- If not, what can you change in your strategy for 2019 to be able to achieve the growth you’re aiming for.
Update Print Marketing Materials
Review your print marketing materials and make sure all of the information on them is up-to-date. Did a phone number or address change? Did a staff member have a change of name or title change? It’s essential to review business cards, letterhead, and envelopes to make sure the contact information is good to go for 2019.
Purge Your Workstation
We all dread going through our workstations. Tossing out anything you’ve been holding onto that isn’t going to contribute to growth in 2019 may sound like a tedious task, but you’ll be thankful you did it.
Having a clean, uncluttered, and organized workspace will help you stay focused on the projects that matter. Looking for additional ways to improve your workstation? Take a look at these 8 Easy Workspace Fixes to Improve Productivity, Mood, Creativity, and Health.
Know Your Tax Deadlines
Last year was a big year for taxes. From The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that went into effect on January 1, 2018, to the new low corporate tax rate to the 20 percent deduction for pass-through businesses.
Because it was such a big year for taxes, Gusto (an online HR, payroll, and benefits service) compiled a checklist of all the major tax deadlines for businesses.
The article lists the critical dates you need to know, such as when to have W2’s to employees by and what dates your business’s taxes are required to be submitted before.
Double-Check Employee Data
Did you gain or lose any team members in 2018? Be sure you have an accurate list of all staff members. Confirm with your team that all names, contact and tax information are up-to-date in your system.
Review and Verify Benefits Packages
If you offer benefits to your employees, be sure to review and verify them for 2019. Below are some examples of benefits to consider, add, remove, or change.
- 401(k) Plan Eligibility
- Healthcare Benefits
- Work From Home Incentives
- Sick Time
- Vacation Days or Paid Time Off
- Deferred compensation
- Maternity Leave
- Paternity Leave
Companies tend to set and forget employee benefits. This year be sure to take the time to update your employees’ benefits packages and make sure all policies are accurate and up-to-date.
We hope 2019 is your business’s best year yet. If we can help along the way, let us know. Have any tips for starting the new year out right? Leave them in the comments section below.
