Why December Is the Perfect Time to Write Your Business Plan
Did you know December is National Write a Business Plan Month? What a weird holiday; but if you’ve known me longer than five minutes, you probably already know I love any excuse to break out the charcuterie!
With or without the cured meat celebrations - it honesty makes sense. December has a way of stripping the year down to what it actually was. No pressure to “start strong,” no pretending you’re going to suddenly become a whole new person on January 1. You’re just here, looking back at twelve months of decisions, wins, mistakes, and the moments that made you rethink everything.
That’s exactly why this is the right time to write your business plan.
People think business plans are formal documents you only write if you’re applying for a loan or pitching something big. That’s not how I teach it. A business plan, at its core, is clarity. It’s the space where you decide what actually matters before you get swept into another year of reacting to whatever pops up first.
And honestly, December gives you a level of honesty you don’t always have in other months. You can see what worked. You can see what drained you. You can see what you kept doing long after it stopped being useful. You don’t have to dig for information. It’s right there.
When I talk about business planning, I’m not talking about a long document that takes you three weeks and several headaches to get through. I’m talking about getting clear on the parts of your business that hold everything up. Your values, your offers, your systems, the way people find you, the way clients move through your world, and the habits that keep everything from spiraling into chaos. All of that belongs in your plan. But none of it has to be complicated.
And since you asked for a single list, here’s the one that actually matters:
Before the year ends, answer these questions:
What worked this year, and what made it work?
What didn’t work, and why you’re done pretending it will magically improve.
What you want more of next year.
What you refuse to repeat.
What support, structure, or accountability would make the biggest difference?
One thing you can put in place right now that will take pressure off Future You?
If you answer those honestly, you’ve already built the backbone of your business plan. You can flesh it out later, but the clarity starts here.
I’ll say this as plainly as I can: entrepreneurs don’t struggle because they’re not capable. They struggle because they try to operate without a plan, without systems, and without a way to keep themselves grounded when things get loud. A business plan keeps you anchored. It keeps you focused. It keeps you from rebuilding the same exhausting year over and over.
And if you want support as you do this, that’s why Rooted Authority exists. The conversations, the coworking sessions, the trainings, the community. None of it is about hustling harder. It’s about building a business that actually supports your life and doesn’t drain it.
When you’re ready to sit down and plan your next year like the woman who knows exactly what she wants, we’ll be right there with you.