Selling more can be an important goal. But before looking for new customers, accepting a large order, or expanding your services, it is worth asking:

Does your business have the resources and organization it needs to deliver?

This question is relevant in the final quarter of 2026. On October 5, TD Bank published a survey on U.S. small businesses’ expectations and preparedness for year-end. Its findings include expectations of higher revenue, postponed investments, and financing needs. The survey included 200 owners, so its results describe that sample and should not be interpreted as representing every business. Read TD Bank’s survey.

For EH Smart Finance, these findings provide an opportunity to discuss preparedness: how to review your numbers before committing to a new stage of growth.

Start by defining what growth means to you

“I want my business to grow” is a good starting point, but it still needs a specific definition.

Do you want to serve more customers? Increase the value of each sale? Hire help? Open another location? Focus on more profitable services?

Each goal calls for a different review. We recommend writing down what you want to accomplish and what you would need to make it possible.

For example, before offering a new service, you can evaluate:

• The resources it requires.
• How much time you will spend with each customer.
• The expenses you will incur before receiving payment.
• How you will set its price.
• How you will evaluate whether it is worth continuing.

1. Review when money comes in and goes out

Before taking on new commitments, prepare a simple projection of receipts and payments for the coming weeks.

Include available cash, expected collections, and planned payments. Record the dates as well as the amounts.

Illustrative example: imagine that accepting an order requires paying $3,000 for materials before you begin, but the customer will pay after delivery. You need to evaluate how you will cover that outlay while waiting for payment.

We recommend reviewing this before accepting the order so you can understand your cash needs and consider appropriate payment terms.

2. Organize your accounts receivable

If part of your plan depends on collecting outstanding invoices, review which ones have a confirmed payment date and which require follow-up.

Start with these questions:

• Which invoices are overdue?
• Is there completed work you have not yet invoiced?
• Are discrepancies or missing documents delaying payment?
• Do your customers understand the payment terms?

At EH Smart Finance, we recommend establishing an invoicing and follow-up routine and distinguishing confirmed collections from expected collections when preparing your projections.

3. Evaluate the costs of expansion

Before investing, gather your anticipated expenses and review how they fit into your budget.

Consider both initial outlays and recurring commitments: staff, tools, rent, subscriptions, insurance, or other expenses relevant to your business.

You can also ask:

What would need to happen for this investment to make sense for my business?

Define how you will evaluate the result and when you will review it. This gives you a specific basis for continuing, adjusting, or postponing.

4. Check your capacity to deliver

Preparedness also includes time, processes, and people.

Before accepting more work, review who will handle each task, which deadlines you can offer, and what support you would need.

We suggest identifying the areas that currently need attention: pending invoicing, delivery delays, unplanned purchases, or tasks that depend entirely on you.

This review can help you plan an expansion that fits your current resources.

5. Organize your information before seeking financing

Financing is among the priorities of participants in TD’s recent survey. The findings also identify preparedness needs related to capital and cash flow planning.

If you are considering a loan, we recommend organizing your records first and evaluating how you would use the funds and make the payments.

Gather your financial statements, review your existing debts, and compare the terms of the options you are considering. Confirm required documents and approval criteria directly with each lender.

A practical review to get started

Before deciding on your next step, set aside time to:

• Update your bookkeeping records.
• Reconcile bank and credit card accounts.
• Review accounts receivable and accounts payable.
• Prepare a cash projection.
• Identify the resources needed for your goal.

These are EH Smart Finance’s recommendations for organization, rather than new requirements arising from the survey.

Prepare your next step with EH Smart Finance

At EH Smart Finance, we can help with bookkeeping, reconciliations, accounts receivable and accounts payable reviews, and organizing your accounting information.

Are you thinking about expanding your business? Let’s begin by reviewing where you are today and what information you need to evaluate your next step.

We offer services in English and Spanish.

Contact EH Smart Finance

General educational content. Expansion and financing decisions should be evaluated according to each business’s individual circumstances.

Current source: TD Small Business Year-End Outlook & Preparedness Survey, published October 5, 2026.