Make 2025 your most organised and stress-free year yet.
With the New Zealand summer nearly over and the kids back at school, now’s a good time to get your business sorted for the year ahead.
February is usually when work starts picking up again, so taking a bit of time to get organised will save you stress and help things run smoother throughout the year.
In this blog, I’m sharing five practical steps you can take over the next 30 days to set yourself up for a strong year ahead.
1. Get your admin sorted
Let’s start with planning those admin tasks that always seem to end up at the bottom of your to-do list.
What’s one of the best things you can do immediately? Book regular catchups with your team.
Even a quick chat once a month keeps things on track, sorts out any issues early, and makes sure everyone knows what is expected of them.
It also means you’re not stressing when it comes time for performance and pay reviews because you’ll already have a good idea of how everyone’s doing.
Other than pay and performance reviews, now’s a good time to tick off key admin tasks like:
Scheduling health & safety checks and site audits
Booking tool and vehicle maintenance
Reviewing supplier agreements and material costs
Planning staff leave and rostering
Setting up tax reminders for GST and PAYE
Sorting your admin now means less hassle down the track and avoids last-minute stress later in the year.
2. Lock in a Team Building Days
If you’re on the fence about these or really don’t see the point, read on!
Why bother? Getting the team together outside of work helps keep morale up, gets people talking, and makes for a better work environment.
You don’t even have to do a full day. You could cook up an early morning breakfast on the BBQ every so often, giving the team an hour or so to catch up and chat. It’s an easy way to bring everyone together.
A half day out playing a game like paintball followed by a lunch could work well. Or if you do go with a full-day event, and yes, your team should be paid, it gives you more time for activities, a relaxed lunch, sharing a beer, having some laughs, and even getting serious on some issues.
Last year, I wrote a blog about mental health and tradie burnout, which ties into why team-building days matter. If you missed it, you can check it out here.
Team-building events are a great way to get rid of stress, reconnect and remind everyone why they enjoy working with you.
And importantly, you’re showing them how much you value their work and them as a person, which helps keep your staff loyal and hardworking.
3. Take a ‘Boss Day’ for Yourself
Running a business isn’t just about staying busy; it’s about knowing where you’re heading and how you’ll get there.
Why not set aside a minimum of one day for your ‘Boss Day’, ideally one every three months, to step back and think about what you want from 2025?
And no, this isn’t a day to drop the kids off at school, mow the lawns, or sort out those DIY jobs you’ve been putting off. This is a day where you actually focus on you and your business.
Maybe go for a drive, head to your favourite beach, or go fishing for a few hours.
The key is to consciously step away from the daily grind and give yourself space to think about the bigger picture.
4. Book in time with your Accountant or Bookkeeper
Sorting out your finances might not be the most exciting task, but staying on top of your numbers is one of the smartest things you can do. Instead of putting it off, schedule regular catchups now.
A weekly review would be great, but let’s be real, that’s not happening for most of us.
Instead, go with what works best for you, and you can commit to, whether that’s monthly, every six weeks, or once a quarter.
Whatever schedule you decide on, lock it in now so you don’t end up stressed when bills are coming in, or it’s time to do your tax or GST returns!
5. Map out your year for success
A strong, high-performing business runs on good planning, not luck. Now’s the time to look ahead and map out key dates so you’re not caught off guard.
Think about:
Public holidays and annual leave—so you can manage workloads properly.
Training and upskilling for you and the team
Tax deadlines—so you’re not stressing at the last minute.
Licences, permits and insurance review and renewals
Industry events and training to book in for you and your team.
Customer follow-ups for repeat business and to encourage Google reviews to boost your online presence and reputation.
Marketing and social media planning
Keep your business on track for 2025
Spending a bit of time over the next 30 days planning and getting organised will help you stay on top of things and make the rest of 2025 easier to handle as a busy tradie business owner.
By sorting these five things now, you’ll set yourself up to keep the work coming in, stay competitive, and cut down on unnecessary stress.
Being a tradie business owner isn’t just about working hard. It’s about working smart.
And if juggling tasks like admin, bookings, invoicing and keeping on top of your workload feels like it’s all too much, Shadow Admin’s Virtual Assistants can help take the pressure off.
From handling paperwork to social media management and more, we’ve got your back so you can focus on the jobs that matter the most and bring in the dollars.
Let's chat: 027 638 2594
