How to Set and Achieve Your Small Business Goals in 2026

A new year often brings a renewed sense of possibility and motivation. As a small business owner, harnessing this energy by establishing short- and long-term goals for your business can contribute to your success moving forward.

In this post, we outline how you can set and achieve your small business goals in 2026. You’ll learn how to:

• Review what works and what doesn’t for your small business
• Set clear and measurable goals for your small business using the SMART framework
• Align your goals with 2026 small business trends
• Track your small business’s goals

Review what works and what doesn’t for your small business

An effective way to set and achieve your business goals is by reviewing your current and past operations and functions. Creating a “Business Wrap-Up” document that highlights what has worked well and what can be improved since last year can be essential for identifying your focus areas.

Whether you choose to evaluate areas such as your sales strategy, financial performance, vendor relationships, marketing efforts, team dynamics, brand recognition, or customer acquisition and retention, ask yourself which aspects of your small business could be improved or adjusted to achieve the results you want.

Also, don’t forget to note which areas improved and those that are projected for greatness. For example, if you recently updated your CRM software and it’s showing promising results by enhancing customer loyalty and driving sales, assess what’s working and set goals to build on that momentum.

Compare against industry standards and competitors

If you are unsure whether certain areas or processes are progressing as you’d like, gather data on industry standards to inform your decision. Comparing your performance against relevant benchmarks can provide context for your results and highlight areas where your small business excels or needs improvement. Doing this can also help you set realistic opportunities in your specific industry.

You can also assess what your competitors are doing. A relatively quick way to do this is to conduct an audit of their social media accounts, for example. Look at their engagement rates, compare their follower counts, and examine the types of content they post. This information can help you determine whether you are on track with others in your industry.

Set clear and measurable goals using the SMART framework

The SMART framework has been widely used in goal planning because it helps create focused and precise goals rather than vague statements. When setting goals for your business, it’s important to make sure they are clear and measurable. That way, you can track your progress and determine whether you are inching closer to your goal or if you need to change course.

Without specific criteria, goals can feel overly broad and sometimes even unattainable. For example, if your goal is to increase your Instagram followers, you could start with a one-month timeline. Set a goal to post short, behind-the-scenes video content three times a week, and comment on and engage with at least 20 posts by others. By the end of the month, you can evaluate whether you achieved this posting goal and assess if you’ve grown your following or if you need to adjust your strategy.

SMART stands for:

• Specific: Make your business goals clear and concise to avoid being too broad
• Measurable: Each goal should have criteria so you can measure progress (e.g., look at KPIs that you can attach to each goal)
• Achievable: Create goals that you can actually reach, but that still push you
• Relevant: Each goal should align with your business to help you succeed long-term rather than steer you off course
• Time-bound: Establish a timeline so you know when you accomplish each goal

Keep your business goals attainable

If you have big goals, break them down into manageable steps and assign weekly, monthly, or quarterly timelines. For example, if your goal is to increase customer acquisition, your first step might be to gather information on consumer expectations in your industry over the next month. This, in itself, can be considered a goal, as it can bring you closer to understanding what consumers expect from businesses in your market, ultimately allowing you to meet their needs and help you acquire more customers.

To prevent burnout or disappointment, it is important to limit the number of major goals you set. While short-term goals you can achieve in a week or month can be great to have on the go, especially if you have a team to delegate responsibilities to, setting too many or creating several large, long-term goals can make things feel overwhelming. Determine what main goals matter to you and pace yourself.

Remain flexible and celebrate small wins

While the SMART framework is a great tool to use to set and achieve your goals, don’t forget to celebrate any smaller victories along the way to your main goal. Keep in mind that some goals, even if they meet the SMART criteria, may not be attainable. Acknowledge what you accomplished during that time, even if it wasn’t exactly what you initially expected. Goals should be adjusted if circumstances change.

Align your goals with 2026 small business trends

As you plan your goals for 2026, it is important to consider how broader industry trends may impact your small business. Are there new AI-enabled tools that can increase your efficiency? Is there a noticeable increase in consumer demand for specific products or services in your sector? Noticing the factors that influence consumer behaviour and identifying customer trends can be particularly helpful if you’re unsure where to begin your goal-planning journey. By aligning your goals with new market demands, you can remain competitive and focused on future growth.

READ MORE: Top 5 Trends Small Businesses Should Watch in 2026

Track your goals

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life of running your small business, it can be easy to lose track of the progress you’re making after you’ve set goals. To improve your chances of achieving these goals, it’s important to establish a system for tracking your progress.

There are various software programs, websites, and goal-tracking apps available that can help you track your goals. To remain tapped into the latest technology, look for tools with AI integrations, as they can help you easily analyze progress and forecast outcomes.

Many tools can help you track financial performance, marketing results, customer activity, and more, providing visual milestones to celebrate along the way. Be sure to select tools that meet your needs and fit within your budget, so you’re more inclined to use them.

Small Business Solutions with The UPS Store

As we enter the new year, our team at The UPS Store is ready to support you in achieving your small business goals. Our Small Business Solutions, including our free GET MORE Rewards app, offer discounts on a variety of services, including shipping, packaging, mailbox rentals, printing, and more.

Visit a location near you to talk with one of our team members and discover how we can help your small business thrive in 2026 and beyond.