Good Morning!

1. Feature: Pulling Together a Successful (and Fun) Fall Planning Meeting for Your SMB (4 min)

2. From the Archive:

   • Before You Sign: A Simple Contract Review and Checklist for SMBs

   • Cybersecurity on a Shoestring: Protecting Your SMB from Rising Threats

3. Dear TCoL: Help for a Struggling LinkedIn Company Page

A strong week starts with a clear mind. Take today to prepare.

-TCoL

Missed our last feature article? How to Build a Customer Agreement That Works for You and Your Clients

Every business is different, but nearly all benefit from stepping back once a year to reset, plan, and build momentum. A fall planning meeting does not have to consume three days to be worthwhile. A focused one-day meeting with a short session the next morning strikes the right balance. You get clarity, alignment, and camaraderie without overwhelming people or the budget.

Start with Structure

If you hold quarterly board meetings, run a short one before the planning session. Use it to wrap up board business so the group can concentrate on strategy.

Send materials a week in advance. Financials, market data, departmental reports, and a list of assumptions should be circulated early. Ask each participant to bring three priorities. This keeps conversation practical and prevents drifting.

Location Matters

Choose a place that helps people think clearly. A lodge, resort, or retreat center usually works best. Look for comfortable meeting rooms, good food, and quiet space for side conversations.

Avoid fall weather trouble spots. Hurricanes can still strike the Gulf and Atlantic in October. Snow can arrive early in the mountains. Travel disruptions ruin momentum.

Some businesses hold their meeting in a growth or new market. This allows them to invite a customer, potential customer, partner, or local expert to join for a meal or one session. Hearing directly from those outside voices can shape strategy and open doors.

Keep travel simple. A short flight or drive is best. Long travel drains energy before the first meeting begins.

Know the IRS Rules

The IRS allows deductions for meetings if the primary purpose is business. IRS Code Section 162 of the Internal Revenue Code covers ordinary and necessary expenses, including travel, lodging, meeting rooms, and supplies. Meals are fifty percent deductible if they are reasonable and you are present. Entertainment is not deductible.

Spouses and family members are deductible only if they perform a real business role. Otherwise, separate those costs.

Documentation is critical. Have a written agenda, an attendance list, and receipts. If you add recreation, hold a short business meeting that morning and record it. Even a one-hour session qualifies if it is substantive and documented. IRS Publication 463 explains these requirements.

Different Businesses, Different Needs

There is no one model for a planning meeting. The right design depends on the kind of business you run.

• Board-governed companies with outside investors should use the time for strategy, capital planning, and major initiatives. There should be a key, central leader of the meeting, like the CEO. Then assign others to lead or moderate key sessions. All session leaders should be very well prepared.

• Family businesses should include governance, roles, and succession. These topics often matter as much as budgets or products.

• Investor groups or partnerships should rotate who leads each discussion. Focus on new opportunities, capital commitments, and accountability.

• Single-member LLCs often benefit from simply getting away. One focused day in a different setting gives the owner perspective and clarity. A short meeting with an advisor or even a personal review of financials and goals can be enough.

Every business can tailor the meeting to its structure and culture. The important thing is to keep it serious, prepared, and worthy of everyone’s time.

A One-Day Agenda That Works

Here is a sample outline that fits many situations:

Day One: Planning Session

• Morning: financial review, market conditions, and key assumptions

• Midday: departmental updates and discussion of risks and opportunities

• Afternoon: deep dive on the most important strategic issues such as budgeting, growth, or product development

• Late afternoon: action planning with clear assignments and next steps

• Evening: dinner together, possibly with a guest from the local market for perspective

Day Two: Brief Business Session + Recreation

• Morning (60–90 minutes): short meeting to review takeaways, confirm assignments, and address new issues

• Remainder of the day: optional recreational activities for different tastes such as golf, hiking, spa, or local tours

This model gives you one full day of business plus enough social time to bond the team. The morning session on day two helps to document compliance with IRS rules while also reinforcing the plan.

Keep Energy High

One day of business works best when sessions are short and purposeful. Break every ninety minutes or so. Assign leaders for each topic. End each session with decisions and accountability.

Encourage everyone to contribute. The best insights often come from those closest to the work. Keep to the schedule. People respect meetings that start and end on time.

Follow Through

Circulate a summary of decisions and next steps within a few days of the meeting. Assign owners to each task and set deadlines. Hold a thirty-day check-in to review progress and fix any early obstacles. Schedule quarterly reviews to keep the plan alive.

At year end, look back at the fall meeting. Note what worked, what should change, and what will make the next one better.

Final Thoughts

A fall planning meeting is not one-size-fits-all. It can be a board strategy session, a family business retreat, a partner meeting, or a single owner stepping back to think. What matters is that the time is intentional, structured, and focused on the future.

With a clear one-day agenda, a short follow-up the next morning, and optional recreation, you can have a meeting that is productive, practical, and enjoyable. 

Done right, it becomes one of the most valuable days of the year for you and your team.

Dear TCoL: Help for a Struggling LinkedIn Company Page

Question: We started a new LinkedIn company page for our business, and we aren’t getting much traction. We are B2B service provider. What would you suggest for getting consistent growth?

Answer: Starting a LinkedIn (LI) company page can be tough. Many business owners struggle at first and then lose interest. The good news: steady growth is possible, and you don’t need to be an LI influencer to make it happen. Here are the key steps:

Understand how LI works. Forget most of the so-called guides and experts. The best overview of LinkedIn’s algorithm we’ve found is here: https://blog.hootsuite.com/linkedin-algorithm/. Read it first and it will help you understand why some posts and pages grow while others don’t.

Focus on your real audience. Every business is different, but the goal is always the same: reach the people who write the checks. A company page also builds general brand awareness, so post content that positions your business as an expert in its field. Read our prior article: Revive Your Stagnant LinkedIn Company Page.

Use your monthly invitations. Don’t expect followers to show up on their own. LinkedIn gives you a set number of invitations to connect people to your company page each month. Use them all. If you don’t have many personal followers to invite, spend time growing your own network. While you do that, ask employees, partners, and friends to invite followers to your new company page. Every invitation helps.

Target wisely. When sending invitations, use LinkedIn’s filters by geography, industry, or profession. That way, your invites reach the right potential customers instead of random connections.

Hope this helps. Let us know at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Have an interesting business question and need a free bit of advice? Send your question to [email protected]. No confidential info, please!