10 Smart Things You Can Do for Your Business in 2026
At the end of the day, running a successful business in 2026 isn’t about doing everything; it’s about doing the right things consistently. When you use technology to lighten your load, personalize your customer experience, price based on real value, and make working with you effortless, your business becomes stronger, smoother, and far more enjoyable to run. Start with one or two changes, build momentum, and keep going. You’ve already done the hard part by showing up and investing in your growth.
At the end of the day, growing a business in 2026 isn’t about doing more; it’s about choosing the right things to focus on. These ten tips give you a roadmap to make your life easier, your systems smoother, and your customers happier. Start small. Pick one or two ideas that feel doable this month, try them out, and build from there. You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight.
Now let’s walk through 10 smart, practical steps any business owner can implement in a way that feels aligned, sustainable, and genuinely exciting. Make these your own, and watch your business thrive in ways that feel aligned, sustainable, and exciting.
Tip # 1. Make your marketing feel personal
People want to feel noticed and understood, and the good news is, you no longer have to personalize everything by hand to make that happen. Today’s tools can automatically tailor messages based on what your customers actually do. If someone always books gel nails, your system can send them a gel-special offer without you lifting a finger. If a potential client downloads your pricing guide, they can get a friendly follow-up email with tips to help them make a confident decision. When your communication feels thoughtful and relevant, people are far more likely to engage, book, and buy, because personalized content simply performs better.
Tools that make this easy:
ActiveCampaign: Email marketing + automation + personalization all in one. Helps you send targeted messages based on customer behavior.
HubSpot Marketing Hub: Makes it easy to create emails, landing pages, and ads, and to track leads, all tied directly to your CRM.
Jasper AI: An AI writing assistant that helps create social posts, email content, blogs, and marketing copy fast.
Tip # 2. Charge based on value, not just time
Hourly pricing is becoming outdated. People don’t pay for hours; they pay for results, clarity, and transformation. When you charge based on value, both you and your client win: they know exactly what they’re getting, and you get paid for the actual impact of your work. Instead of charging $100 per hour for consulting, you create a $1,500 “Business Growth Package” with clear deliverables and outcomes.
Here are some tools to help streamline proposals, signatures, and payments:
PandaDoc: A proposal and contract powerhouse. PandaDoc lets you build beautiful proposals, add pricing tables, track when someone opens your document, and get fast e-signatures.
Dropbox Sign (HelloSign): A simple, user-friendly way to get contracts signed digitally. Great for clients who want a clear, fast checkout experience without printing anything.
HoneyBook: Perfect for service-based businesses. HoneyBook bundles contracts, invoices, payments, and client communication all in one place. It’s like your back-office team in a box.
Tip # 3. Make it ridiculously easy for customers to buy from you
Customers today want fast, simple, and stress-free experiences. If your booking or payment process is slow, confusing, or takes too many clicks, people simply move on. Convenience is a competitive advantage. For example, in a salon, a client can book online in 20 seconds, pay upfront, and get automatic reminders so they never forget an appointment. In consulting, a lead can click “Book a Call,” choose a time, sign a simple contract, and pay, all in minutes. The easier it is to book, pay, and start working with you, the more customers will say “yes” and the faster your business grows.
Tools that remove friction and make buying effortless:
Acuity Scheduling: Acuity makes online booking easy with real-time availability, automated reminders, intake forms, and built-in payments. Great for salons, freelancers, and consultants.
Calendly: Clean, professional scheduling that lets people book time with you instantly. Syncs with all your calendars and eliminates the “What time works for you?” back-and-forth.
Square: Square is an all-in-one payment system for appointments, POS, invoicing, and checkout. Perfect for salons or storefront businesses that need simplicity and speed.
Stripe: Stripe powers online payments and subscriptions for service businesses and e-commerce. It’s secure, customizable, and trusted worldwide.
Tip # 4. Let technology handle the boring, repetitive stuff
If a task is repetitive, such as sending reminders, writing the same email, or moving data between apps, chances are you don’t need to do it manually anymore. AI and automation are your new best friends. For example, let’s say a customer books an appointment. The system adds it to your calendar, sends a confirmation, and the customer gets a reminder. You don’t lift a finger.
These tools save time, reduce mistakes, and help you stay organized:
Zapier: A super easy automation tool that connects your apps so tasks get done automatically. Think “if this happens → do that next” without you doing anything.
Asana: I use Asana because it provides a clean, simple system for organizing projects, assigning tasks, and keeping your team on track. Great for staying on top of workflow!
Process Street: Perfect for creating step-by-step processes your team can follow. Helps you run recurring tasks consistently.
Tip # 5. Watch your numbers like a CEO
With real-time dashboards, you can instantly see what’s working, what’s slipping, and where the real opportunities are. Maybe you notice Tuesdays are dragging at your salon, so you launch a fun “Tuesday Special.” Or your consulting data reveals one service is outperforming everything else, so you double down and promote it more. When you can see your numbers clearly, making smart decisions becomes so much easier.
Good tools to try:
Google Looker Studio: A free tool to turn your data into easy-to-read dashboards and charts. Amazing for tracking KPIs without spreadsheets.
HubSpot CRM: A powerful all-in-one CRM for managing contacts, emails, pipelines, and reports. Easy to set up and beginner-friendly.
Databox: A dashboard tool that pulls in data from different apps so you can see everything in one place, including revenue, marketing, sales, and more.
Tip # 6. Tell your story with short videos
Short videos are really where everyone’s paying attention these days, TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts, all of it. People don’t just want polished content anymore; they want to actually see you. Your process, your personality, your vibe. When you show up on camera, even in quick clips, it helps people feel connected to who you are and what your brand is all about. It’s the fastest way to build trust and stay top of mind right now.
Here are some easy video editing tools:
CapCut: A free, easy video editor perfect for TikToks, Reels, and short videos. Tons of templates and effects.
Canva: A user-friendly design tool that makes graphics, videos, and presentations simple, even if you're not a designer.
InShot: A phone-based video editor great for quick, polished social content on the go.
Social media channel schedulers:
Later: Lets you schedule your social media posts in advance and plan your content visually.
Buffer: A simple, clean tool for scheduling posts, tracking engagement, and managing all your social accounts.
Tip # 7. Build a community not just a follower count
Followers click. Community sticks. People love being part of something; that’s good news for your brand. For example, a VIP salon group that gives clients early booking access. Or another example, a business community where consulting clients get monthly Q&A sessions.
Here are some popular platforms to build your community:
Facebook Groups: A free, easy way to create a community space where your customers can interact with you and each other.
Circle: A sleek platform for membership groups, online communities, courses, and client hubs.
WhatsApp Communities: Great for small, engaged groups that want quick communication and updates.
Tip # 8. Use AI tools to help you sell smarter (not harder)
Selling in 2026 doesn’t have to feel like a guessing game. AI tools can now show you exactly which leads are ready to buy, when to follow up, and even help you write proposals that close deals. It’s basically like having a virtual sales assistant who never sleeps. Your CRM analyzes your pipeline, highlights the leads most likely to book this week, and even suggests the perfect follow-up message. Instead of chasing everyone, you focus on the people who are ready to say “yes!”.
Tools worth exploring:
Freshsales: Freshsales uses AI to score leads, track conversations, and recommend next steps. It tells you who’s “hot,” who’s slowing down, and how to move deals forward. Great for small teams that want enterprise-level sales insights.
Apollo.io: Apollo.io gives you access to millions of potential leads and helps you email them, track engagement, and automate outreach. It’s perfect for prospecting and growing your pipeline without spending hours researching.
Loopio: Loopio helps you create fast, polished proposals and RFP responses. Instead of starting from scratch, it uses stored templates and AI suggestions so you can deliver high-quality proposals quickly, a huge win for consultants.
Tip # 9. Keep your team flexible
Not every role needs to be full-time. Many businesses are mixing core staff with part-time or contract help. It lets you grow without adding unnecessary payroll stress. Need a video editor once a month? A social media assistant only during promotions? Then hire a freelancer when you need it, not forever.
Where to find good help:
Fiverr: Fiverr is a marketplace where you can hire freelancers for almost anything — graphic design, video editing, social media help, website updates, admin tasks, and more. It’s perfect when you need quick, one-time help or small projects done fast. Prices start low, and you can browse reviews, samples, and ratings before choosing someone.
Upwork: Upwork is great for finding longer-term or more specialized freelancers, like virtual assistants, bookkeepers, marketing experts, or consultants. You can post a job, interview candidates, and build ongoing relationships. It’s ideal when you need consistent support but aren’t ready for another full-time hire.
Magic: I personally use Magic, which provides 24/7 virtual assistants who handle tasks such as scheduling, emails, research, follow-ups, CRM updates, and more, all via text or chat. It’s like having an on-demand operations assistant who works in the background to keep your business moving. Get 4 weeks Free by using my Magic Link to sign up.
Tip # 10. Take cybersecurity seriously (it matters more than ever)
With so many online tools, apps, and platforms supporting our businesses today, protecting your data isn’t just a “nice to have”; it’s essential. Cybersecurity is no longer something only big companies worry about. Small businesses, solo entrepreneurs, and growing teams are just as vulnerable, especially when systems are scattered or login habits are weak.
Something as simple as storing customer information in a secure CRM instead of a random spreadsheet can prevent accidental deletions, unauthorized access, or damaging data leaks. Think of cybersecurity as locking the doors to your digital storefront. When your tools are protected, your business runs smoothly, your customers trust you more, and you can focus on growth instead of cleaning up preventable mistakes.
Here are some tools that will help you secure your business:
1Password: A secure password manager that stores all your logins safely so you never forget a password again.
Google Workspace: Email, calendar, storage, docs, plus strong built-in security. A reliable hub for your business.
LastPass: Another trusted password manager for keeping your business accounts and team credentials secure.
Malwarebytes: Reliable antivirus and malware protection that safeguards your computers from ransomware, viruses, and malicious websites. Easy to install and maintain.
Cloudflare: Small businesses can use Cloudflare for website security, including DDoS protection, firewalls, and faster site loading. A must if you sell online or handle customer data through your site.
NordLayer (by NordVPN): A business-focused VPN that protects your team’s internet connections, especially when working from public Wi-Fi or multiple locations. Keeps sensitive data private.
With the right tools, more transparent processes, and a little courage to try new ways of working, you can create a business that feels lighter, runs smarter, and gives you the freedom to actually enjoy what you’re building. You’ve got everything you need, now take the next step and make 2026 your strongest year yet!