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After Labor Day: 8 Operational Plays SMBs Should Run Heading Into Q4 (2025)

September 2, 2025

By Scott Michajluk | Fractional COO | Founder, GO Consulting


There’s something about the Tuesday after Labor Day. Kids are back in school, the start of football is in the air, inboxes wake up, and the last “we’ll circle back after summer” finally lands. For SMBs, this week is the unofficial kickoff to the Q4 sprint. The calendar gets tight fast - Thanksgiving is November 27, Black Friday is November 28, and Cyber Monday falls on December 1 this year - so what you tighten now decides how you finish.


Below are practical, sleeves-rolled-up plays I recommend to owners and operators as we pivot into Q4.


1) Cash First


  • List every big bill left this year (taxes, bonuses, insurance, equipment).

  • Ask for deposits on custom work; put payment links on every quote and invoice.

  • Call customers with overdue invoices—be friendly and ask for a date.


Goal: Enough cash in the bank to cover the next few weeks without stress.


2) Schedule and Staffing


  • Pick the 3 busiest weeks you expect and staff to that level now.

  • Publish holiday hours and cutoffs this week.

  • Line up backup help (contractors/overtime) for crunch days.


Goal: No last-minute scrambling.


3) Quick Price Check


  • If your costs crept up, make a small price bump (2–3%) or add a rush fee.

  • Update your quote templates so your team isn’t using old prices.


Goal: Don’t lose margin just because summer pricing never got updated.


4) Parts and Inventory


  • Identify the top items that stop jobs if you run out. Stock those.

  • Ask suppliers for real lead times and order early.

  • Tell customers your last order/ship-by dates.


Goal: No stalled jobs over a missing $12 part.


5) Keep Your Best Customers Close


  • Make a short list of your top 20 accounts.

  • Call them this month: check in, share one useful idea, and ask how you can help before year-end.

  • Ask for one review or case study from a happy customer.


Goal: Protect what you’ve earned and set up easy wins.


6) Promise Less, Deliver Perfect


  • Run fewer promotions, only where you have capacity to deliver on time.

  • Say no to work that doesn’t fit your schedule, skills, or margins.

  • Post clear “order by” dates for holiday delivery or year-end completion.


Goal: Fewer apologies, more five-star finishes.


7) A One-Page Weekly Scorecard

Review these five numbers every Monday with your team:


  1. Cash in bank (weeks you can cover)

  2. Overdue invoices (how much, how many)

  3. On-time jobs/orders last week

  4. Booked work vs. team capacity (next 2–3 weeks)

  5. Customer happiness (recent reviews or quick survey)


Tip: Put one owner next to each number. If it slips, agree on one fix for this week.


8) Protect Your Team


  • Cap overtime and rotate who takes the “heavy” days.

  • Hold a 10-minute daily huddle: yesterday’s win, today’s top risk, who needs help.

  • Feed the team on the peak days and say thank you—out loud.


Goal: Finish strong without burning out your A-players.


Your First Week, Simplified


  • Today: Publish holiday hours/cutoffs; update prices if needed.

  • Tomorrow: Call customers with overdue invoices; order “must-have” parts.

  • This Friday: Call your top 20 customers; schedule next week’s 10-minute huddles.


Stop Doing This


  • Discounting work you can’t deliver on time.

  • Quoting custom jobs without a deposit.

  • Letting old invoices sit because it’s awkward to call.

  • Adding new goals without dropping old ones.


Final Timeout


Q4 rewards clarity and consistency. Keep the plan short, the promises realistic, and the team supported. Do that, and December feels calm, not chaotic.

If you want a fast outside look, we run a 60-minute Operational Health Check that leaves you with a one-page plan, owners, and dates. Happy to help you lock in the finish. Schedule a session


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