October Focus: Preparing for 2026 Business Budgets
October marks the start of the final quarter of the year, and the perfect time to start preparing your 2026 business budget.
Too many business owners in construction, trades, and service industries wait until year-end to start budgeting. By then, decisions are rushed, opportunities are missed, and the numbers often don’t reflect the real financial picture.
As a Fractional CFO team specializing in accounting for construction, trades and service businesses, we know that the businesses that win in 2026 are already laying their financial foundation today.
CFO Insights: Why Start Budget Prep Now?
- Clarity on Performance: With three quarters of 2025 behind you, you have real data to evaluate revenue, costs, and cash flow.
- Time to Adjust: Starting early means you can still refine pricing, control overhead, and make changes before year-end.
- Better Decisions = Better Growth: A thoughtful budget creates confidence, improves decision-making, and positions your company for financial growth and profitability in the new year.
____________________________________________________________________________
The CFO Framework for Budgets
Every business owner should focus their 2026 budget around the Critical 4 Metrics:
- Revenue – Growth targets rooted in reality.
- Gross Profit – Pricing and job costing that protect margins.
- Net Profit – Ensuring overhead doesn’t consume results.
- Cash – Building reserves to support payroll, taxes, and growth investments.
Budgets built around these 4 metrics give business owners the clearest view of what’s possible.
Next Step for Business Owners
Don’t wait until December to “find the time” to budget. Start now:
- Review your 2025 YTD financials.
- Compare results against your goals
- Begin drafting revenue, cost, and cash flow forecasts for 2026.
Final Word
Budgeting is more than a spreadsheet, it’s your financial playbook for growth. Starting now gives you time, clarity, and control to formulate winning strategies.
At McCoy Accounting Advisors, we help contractors and service businesses turn financial complexity into confidence. Whether it’s Fractional CFO guidance, construction accounting expertise, or budget strategies for profitability, we’re here to help.
Start your 2026 budget prep now.
October Resources – New Blog Series: Budget Prep 2026
Throughout October, we’ll be publishing weekly blogs to guide you through building your 2026 budget:
- Why Early Budgeting Leads to Better Decisions
- Why outsourced Accounting helps Construction, Trades and Service Businesses scale smarter
- How contractors can turn numbers into profitability
- Budgeting doesn’t have to be scary. How to take the fear out of budgeting with early preparation
Stay tuned on LinkedIn, Substack and our website for insights you can put to work immediately.
Speaking Engagements
McCoy Accounting Advisors offers speaking opportunities with Valerie McCoy and our team of experts.
We are available to present at construction associations, trade groups, and business leadership forums and events on topics such as:
- Construction Accounting & The Critical 4 Metrics
- Cash Flow Forecasting for Contractors
- Outsourced Accounting & Payroll Solutions for Growing Businesses
- Fractional CFO Insights: Scaling With Profitability
If your group or event in Kansas City, Overland Park, Lenexa, Johnson County, or the greater metropolitan area is seeking an engaging and practical speaker, contact us today.
Contact Us to Book a Speaking Engagement https://mccoy-advisors.com/#contact
Let’s Chat
McCoy Accounting Advisors specializes in:
- Fractional CFO Services
- Fractional Controller Services
- Construction Accounting Services
- Outsourced Accounting Solutions
- Payroll Solutions for Service Businesses
We proudly serve construction, trades, and service-based businesses in Kansas City, Lenexa, Overland Park, Johnson County and the entire metropolitan area and beyond.
