The Latest News from PlanA

Do you ever feel like you're putting in the effort, but growth just isn’t happening? Or you have some blind spots you haven't thought of, hiding in plain sight? Before you spend another dollar or another hour, let’s pinpoint exactly what’s holding your business back.

A few years ago, I met a business owner who was frustrated (aren't we all!). The business was busy, the team was working hard, customers were buying, yet there never seemed to be enough money in the bank and every month felt like a battle. The owner's view was simple, the business wasn't making enough profit.

A practical session to help business owners review strategy and focus on what will drive growth and profit. 

You will learn how to step back from daily operations, review your strategy, and identify the priorities that will make the biggest difference to your business over the next year.

This webinar session is part of the Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Insights From The Experts Series.

Businesses don’t struggle because you stop working hard, they struggle because the business becomes more complex than the structure around it. At some point everything starts landing back on the your desk and things start to feel out of control.

In our March PlanA Business Update, we unpack why so many owners find themselves indispensable to their own business and share practical shifts that create real freedom, stronger performance, and growth that doesn’t stall when you step away.

Be honest, most businesses aren't ready for sale. Not because they are bad businesses. But because they're built around the owner. That difference matters more than most folk realise. A large share of owners still have no clear exit or succession plan. And if they have a plan its probably in their head, not written down, maybe not even discussed with the folk around them.

Does this sound familiar? If you step away for two weeks, what really happens? What happens if you don't want to step away, but you get sick? Decisions stall, customers wait, your team slows down, problems stack up until you get back. That isn't a commitment issue. It's not a people issue. It is almost always a structure issue.

2025 was full of challenges and lessons for business owners. And now’s the perfect time to take stock – celebrate wins, learn from setbacks, and set clear intentions for the year ahead. And this latest update helps you do just that, with practical reflection and forward-thinking ideas to kick-start your 2026 planning.

As we start the new year, I thought I’d share what I’ve seen over 15+ years working with owner-led SMB businesses and how that might apply to you for 2026 & what might let you find that secret sauce!