Local business coach urges SMEs to plan ahead for 2026
Small and medium-sized business owners across the West Midlands are being urged to prioritise planning and financial forecasting as they prepare for the challenges of 2026.
With economic uncertainty, rising costs and increased competition all set to test resilience, having a clear, well-structured business plan has never been more important. A robust plan, supported by realistic financial forecasts, can be the difference between reacting to problems and confidently navigating them.
That message sits at the heart of Pilots Don’t Fly Planes, the latest book by Peter Sinnott, a business coach and entrepreneur who has worked with hundreds of business owners across the Midlands over the past 16 years.
In the book, Peter distils complex financial planning into a clear, practical framework, giving business owners the tools they need to create meaningful forecasts quickly and with confidence. Written in plain English and grounded in real-world experience, the book is designed to help owners regain control of their businesses rather than feeling overwhelmed by them.
Pilots Don’t Fly Planes currently available on Amazon also explores how business owners can build companies that are not dependent on their constant involvement, putting systems, people and processes in place so the business can run smoothly with or without them, on autopilot. Ultimately, it provides a roadmap to creating a business that is not only profitable and resilient, but also attractive to potential buyers when the time comes to exit.
Peter said: “Just as a pilot wouldn’t take off without a flight plan, business owners shouldn’t enter a new year without a clear plan and financial forecasts. This book shows that planning doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does have to be done.”
