Goal setting is one of the most powerful things you can do for your business, yet most entrepreneurs approach it in a way that guarantees frustration. They set too many goals, choose vague targets or rely on motivation to carry them through the year. By February, everything feels overwhelming again.

If you want 2026 to be the year you actually move forward, your goals need to be simple, focused and supported by a planning structure that makes follow through easy.

Here is how to set goals that work for real business owners.