As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to think big about what you want your business to achieve in 2025. Creating a 12-month business plan for 2025 isn’t just about setting resolutions that fade by February — it’s about crafting a clear, actionable roadmap that guides every decision and helps you reach your goals.
At the HerBusiness Network, November and December are all about big-picture planning— one of our 8 Growth Zones®. Each year, we help our members develop a 12-month business plan for the year ahead that acts as a “guiding light” that keeps them on course, even when life throws surprises their way.
As you’re developing your plan, I want you to take a little time to truly focus on what you want to create in 2025. By dedicating even a small part of this busy season to envisioning your future, you’ll be ready when January arrives, already prepared with a roadmap for success.
Today, I’ll walk you through the framework we use to set a vision, define your “big kahuna” goal, and outline the steps to actually bring that goal to life. By the end, you’ll have a 12-month business plan for 2025 that you can use to stay focused and achieve your big goals.
Why a 12-Month Business Plan for 2025 is Essential
As business owners, we often get caught up in day-to-day tasks, spending every minute on things that may not move us forward.
That’s where a 12-month business plan for 2025 changes the game. It’s not just about productivity — it’s about strategic action toward a clear goal. Without a plan, even the most motivated business owners can feel scattered. A well-thought-out plan is what shifts you from dreaming about your goals to achieving them.
Here are the steps to create yours!
Step 1: Define Your Vision and your ‘Big Kahuna’ Goal
Every effective 12-month business plan for 2025 starts with a vision. Imagine what a successful 2025 looks like for you.
Is it hitting a revenue target?
Launching a new product?
Building a bigger team?
Think big — your vision becomes the roadmap you reference at every crossroad.
Once you have that vision, it’s time to get specific with your Big Kahuna Goal™. This a term we use internally at HerBusiness — it’s a single, overarching goal that, if achieved in the next 12 months, would revolutionise your business.
Think of it as the one big thing that will move the needle in 2025.
For example, if your focus is on financial growth, your Big Kahuna Goal might be to double revenue. If you’re seeking a better work-life balance, it could mean streamlining processes to free up more personal time. Whatever it is, your big kahuna should be clear and measurable so that by the end of 2025, you can say, “Yes, I achieved it” or “No, I didn’t.”
This clarity keeps you focused and wards off distractions.
Step 2: Set Your Strategic Objectives
With your Big Kahuna Goal in place, it’s time to break it down into strategic objectives—two or three MAIN areas to focus on that will drive you closer to your Big Kahuna Goal. These strategic objectives make your 12-month business plan for 2025 feel structured and achievable without overwhelming you.
So, if your Big Kahuna Goal is to double revenue, one strategic objective could be to build a reliable sales funnel, while another might be to expand your team. These objectives keep you on track and set the stage for what’s next.
Step 3: Create Projects That Support Your Big Goal
Then, we move on to the next stage. Under each strategic objective, identify projects that directly support your big kahuna.
Think of projects as mini-goals that help you make progress toward your overarching objective. So, if your objective is to build a sales funnel, your projects could include creating a lead magnet or launching a targeted email campaign. If your objective is to streamline processes, your projects might involve setting up client management software or creating templates for routine tasks.
Breaking down your objectives into specific projects makes your 12-month business plan for 2025 feel actionable because you’re breaking them down into bite-sized steps.
This is where a lot of business owners fail on their big goals. Where it’s easy to visualise and dream about where you want to be in a year, it’s the bite-sized projects that you will be working on week by week.
Step 4: Break it Down into Actionable Steps
Now, we get down to the smallest, most actionable steps—tasks that make up each project.
These tasks are the “bricks” that build your Big Kahuna Goal.
Every task you complete, whether daily or weekly, moves you closer to success. Let’s continue our breakdown. If you’re working on that lead magnet, an action might be drafting the content or setting up the landing page. If you’re automating client processes, an action could be testing the software before it goes live. This structure keeps your 12-month business plan for 2025 manageable and prevents that overwhelm by breaking it down into small, steady steps that add up over time.
Examples of the Planning Framework in Action
To help you visualise how this framework works, let’s look at a few examples of business owners putting these steps into practice.
Imagine a consultant whose Big Kahuna Goal is to reach a six-figure income in 2025. For her, the first strategic objective might be creating a leveraged income stream like an online course, while a second objective could be automating client onboarding. Under each objective, she’ll identify specific projects like developing course content or researching client management software, and then break these projects down into small actions, like setting aside two hours each week for course development or testing the onboarding system.
Or imagine a retail business owner whose big kahuna is to generate 50% of her revenue from online sales by the end of the year. Her strategic objectives might be building an e-commerce website and growing her social media presence. Each objective will have projects like creating product listings and setting up a content calendar, which she’ll tackle through actions such as taking product photos and reaching out to influencers.
Finally, imagine a personal trainer wanting to scale her business by offering group programs. Her Big Kahuna Goal might be to work with more clients sustainably, so her strategic objectives could be to launch a small-group program and streamline client management. She’ll then break down each objective into specific projects, like outlining her group program or organising her scheduling software, followed by small actions that keep her progress steady and focused.
Staying Accountable and Keeping Your 12-Month Business Plan for 2025 on Track
Creating a plan is just the beginning — the real magic happens when you commit to it and hold yourself accountable. It’s easy to get sidetracked by new ideas or shiny distractions. But by staying focused on your big kahuna, you’ll make measurable progress.
One of the best ways to stay accountable is by letting others in on your plan. Share your Big Kahuna Goal with a trusted friend, mentor, or business group. Inside the HerBusiness Network, we have growth groups where members connect regularly, share progress, and hold each other accountable. This community support is invaluable when things get challenging.
Start 2025 Strong with a Clear 12-Month Business Plan
Imagine where you’ll be a year from now if you commit to your Big Kahuna Goal today. Picture the clarity, focus, and growth you’ll experience by taking intentional steps every week.
By this time next year, you could look back and proudly say, “I did it.” So, take that Big Kahuna Goal you thought of today and decide that 2025 is the year you’ll bring it to life. Make your plan, find your support, and start your journey with confidence.
And if you’re looking for a community to help you achieve your 2025 goals, get your spot on the HerBusiness Network waitlist. With hundreds of resources, workshops, and the support of like-minded women, you’ll have everything you need to stay accountable and make your vision a reality. Ready to get support in creating your 12-month business plan for 2025? Get on the HerBusiness Network waitlist here!
The HerBusiness Growth Zones® and Big Kahuna Goal are trademarks of HerBusiness Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
