5 Questions You Should Ask to Jumpstart Your Business Planning

As REALTORS®, we all start the year with big goals, but by the time the holiday season rolls around, many agents are so busy juggling clients, closings, and life that they often skip one of the most important steps for success: putting next year’s business plan on paper.

That’s why we encourage every agent to pause in October and ask themselves a few key questions. These aren’t just “feel good” reflections, they’re the foundation of an intentional, profitable year ahead.

1. Where has your 2025 business actually come from?

We all have ideas about where our deals come from, but when you dig into the data it can be eye-opening. Did referrals really drive most of your closings, or did open houses or online leads carry more weight than you expected? Until you know the true source of your business, you can’t make smart decisions about where to focus in 2026.

2. Which activities gave you the best ROI?

Not all lead generation is created equal. Maybe client appreciation events were a hit, while your online ads fizzled. Maybe those pop-bys felt small, but they sparked referrals that added thousands in commission. When you identify your high-return activities, you can double down with confidence.

3. What did you spend money on that didn’t pay off?

Every agent has expenses that quietly eat into profits; subscriptions you don’t use, marketing that doesn’t land, or tools that sounded great but never got implemented. Cutting those now frees up dollars (and headspace) for strategies that actually grow your business.

4. How many closings do you want in 2026?

This isn’t just about writing down a number. Break it down: how many conversations, appointments, and signed clients do you realistically need each month to hit that goal? When you translate “I want 20 closings” into “I need 3 conversations a week,” the path forward feels more doable.

5. What do you want to do differently this time next year?

This is where growth lives. If you’re honest with yourself, what habits or patterns held you back this year? What small shift would move the needle the most, starting video consistently, tracking your database, or simply asking for referrals more often? Pick one habit to start, one to stop, and one to double down on.

To make this even easier, I’ve put these questions into a one-page starter worksheet you can download here. It’s simple, but powerful when you take the time to fill it out.

And here’s the real opportunity: our annual Business Design Session is coming up soon. That’s where we spend a day helping our agents build an actionable 2026 plan with tools to stay on track. We go over everything from income needs and business expenses, to business sources and strategies. If you’ve been thinking about making a change, this is the perfect time to explore your options before the new year begins.

Reach out today to learn more about Think Boutiq and the customized business training and tools we offer our agents.