Before we get to the how-to section, let’s talk about the common pitfalls when it comes to business development goal setting.  

• Unrealistic goals: When it comes to setting goals, you have to be realistic. The goals need to be attainable or you’re setting yourself up to fail.  

• Not writing your goals down: Even if your goal is achieving your dream and you think about it all day, every day, you still need to write it down and especially write down the steps to achieve that goal. There is satisfaction in checking off each step and seeing the progress towards your goal. 

• Failing to monitor progress: This goes hand in hand with writing the goals down. You need to be able to go back and look at the goal and the steps to achieve it, celebrate successes, and analyze what you need to do to keep moving forward.   

• Setting too many goals: You already have a lot on your plate managing your own business. Be mindful of how much you can take on in addition to your daily work. Taking on too much leads to burnout, and burnout usually means you won’t accomplish your goals.  

We’ve only highlighted four common mistakes in goal setting. You can find these plus four more in the article Eight Common Goal-Setting Mistakes by MindTools.

How to Set Business Development Goals 

Business development goals need to be realistic, attainable, and measurable. Here are the steps you can take to create business development goals: 

1. 🧠 Brainstorm goals: Where do you want your home service business to go? What do you want to achieve? Write these out and pick which goals are attainable in the next year. 

2. ✍️ Create steps/objectives: With your list of goals, start creating the steps to achieve the goal, how you will measure the progress of the goal, and the timeline to achieve specific steps leading up to completion of the goal. 

• • Overall goal example: “By the end of 2025, our home service business will achieve $X in revenue.” 
  • Then break down the goal into steps with measurable outcomes. For example: 
    • In February 2025, we will request online reviews for current customers and ask them to refer friends and family to us for a specific promotion. The goal is to receive online reviews from 20% of February’s customers.  

3. 📈 Track progress: Set time to review your business development goals and objectives. Celebrate the wins and learn from the failures.  

How to Adjust Business Development Goals 

Business development goals do not have to be set in stone. Make sure to check back periodically to see how far you’re progressing towards that goal.  

Whether it is weekly or monthly, it’s good to check the progress. It will inspire you to keep moving forward, it may show you where the path needs to be altered, or perhaps you’ll figure out the goal isn’t as attainable as you thought in the timeframe you’ve allotted. You can adjust your goals as needed. 

Tools and Software to Aid in Business Development Goal Setting 

There are many tools or software solutions that can assist in setting and tracking business development goals, such as project management tools, financial tracking software, or CRM systems.  

Our favorite software to manage projects, customer database, invoices and payments is Project 2 Payment. Project 2 Payment is an easy-to-use payment tool built to offer contractors and small businesses a faster and simpler way to bid on projects, send itemized invoices, collect down payments, and get paid faster for completed work. 

When it comes to tracking your entire financial picture, QuickBooks is the top small business accounting software. With QuickBooks you can track profitability, separate business and personal expenses, and get expert tax prep help. 

When you think about business development goals, it’s all about creating a step-by-step process to make your home service business dreams a reality. Remember to write down the goals, to track your progress, and to celebrate your wins and learn from your losses. Keep your focus on seeing your dream becoming a reality. You can do this! 

Resources: 

I Speak Organized: Goal Setting and Getting Intentional for the Year 

Harvard Business School: Setting Business Goals & Objectives: 4 Considerations  

Indeed: Business Goals: Definition, Examples and How to Set Them