138: How to Plan Q4 for Your Business Without the Year-End Panic

The pumpkins are out, the goals you wrote down in January are staring back at you, and Q4 starts October 1st. If you're a Christian woman entrepreneur wondering what's still worth doing before the year ends, this is the Q4 planning for small business rhythm I come back to every fall. It'll help you finish this year well and lay the groundwork for next year while there's still time to act on it. Grab a notebook. This one comes with action steps. ### What you'll learn - Why looking back comes first, and how an Ebenezer stone turns a simple wins list into worship - The two-column exercise that sorts what's left into Still Aligned and Let It Go, plus a way to save next-year ideas without losing them - A one-hour year-end brand check: where your best clients came from, what your website still says about you, and how to collect testimonials that actually sell - What October, November, and December are each good for, including how to decide about Black Friday well before Thanksgiving night - Why a rebrand or new website for next year needs a decision in Q4 ### Episode highlights *Timestamps are estimates. Check them against the final edited audio.* \[00:00] Fall in Texas and the "where did the year go?" feeling \[02:00] Welcome, and the one question this episode hangs on \[04:30] Step 1: Look back first, with Samuel's Ebenezer stone and your three wins \[08:00] Step 2: Still Aligned or Let It Go, and permission to mourn what didn't work out \[11:30] Step 3: The year-end brand check, from client sources to testimonials \[15:30] Step 4: October to build, November to serve, December to rest \[20:30] Step 5: Three intentions, what God did in my business this year, and a recap ### Q4 planning for small business: questions this episode answers **When should I start planning next year?** In Q4. Waiting until December or the second week of January means you're planning from exhaustion, and a strong first quarter needs groundwork laid in the fall. **Is December a slow month for sales?** Not for everyone. People who want to start the new year with a new brand or website are researching in November and December, so your website needs to be ready to meet them. **When should I book a rebrand or new website?** If it's on next year's list, decide in Q4. Designers book out ahead, and you don't want a brand project landing on top of your busiest season. ### Quote to remember > "Moving something to the right-hand column is clarity, and clarity is progress." ### Resources mentioned - 1 Samuel 7:12, the Ebenezer stone - "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" (the hymn line "Here I raise my Ebenezer") - Free Brand Audit Scorecard: jantouchberry.com/scorecard ### Your next step Ready to turn your notes into a real plan? Grab the free Q4 planning guide and map out the last three months of your year. **Get the Q4 planning guide:** jantouchberry.com/q4planning Want to see how your brand and website are holding up before next year? Take the free Brand Audit Scorecard: jantouchberry.com/scorecard **CONNECT WITH JAN:** Here are all the best places and **FREE stuff** 👇🏻 Grab your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE DOWNLOAD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠S Subscribe to the newsletter **FIND ME HERE:** ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - JanToucberry.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - @jantouchberry **JOIN THE CONVO:** We’d love to hear your thoughts on the episode and its impact on your journey. Use the hashtag #HerFaithAtWork and tag us for a chance to be featured in our next episode. **ABOUT THE HOST:** Jan Touchberry is a brand strategist, marketing consultant, and founder of The Brand Collaborative. She helps women entrepreneurs build profitable businesses with clear messaging, strategic funnels, and aligned visibility. Grab The Visibility Vault - a 5 module training with workbook for a clearer path to consistent sales. Interact Quizzes - What I use to build all my quiz lead magnets on.* Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my linkhttp://jantouchberry.com/showitwhen you sign up.* Get 25% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.* Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my business.* Tired of freebies that flop - grab this resource and level up your game. Get more clear on who your brand serves: Ideal Client Workbook \*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.