5 business New Year’s resolutions for 2025

Whether you are a fan of New Year’s resolutions or not, something about the start of a new year brings about a renewed sense of motivation, both in your personal life and your business.

Now is the time to use that ambition and start thinking about the goals you want to achieve in 2025. Think of those nagging “I really should have” thoughts you’ve had all year—like “I should really help my team be more productive”, “I should really cut back on costs”, or “I should expand into new areas”. This year, make these thoughts a reality, and you will transform your business.

Here are five New Year’s resolutions to make 2025 your business’s best year. Read on to learn why you should prioritise these goals and what steps to take to achieve them.

 

 

1. Cut costs: mitigate rising labour costs before the new tax year 

If you haven’t already, it’s important to consider how your business will be impacted by changes coming in the new tax year. The main ones you can expect to hit your bottom line are the increases to statutory pay rates and employers’ National Insurance contributions (NICs). These were both announced in the government’s recent Autumn Budget.

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From April 2025, the National Living Wage (NLW), the minimum employers must pay staff over 21, will increase from £11.44 per hour to £12.21 per hour. The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for staff aged 18-20 will increase from £8.60 to £10.00 per hour. The NMW rate for staff aged 16-17 and the apprentice rate will increase by 18%, from £6.40 to £7.55 per hour. We also expect the government to introduce new rules for zero-hours contracts, which may affect your staffing costs.

Additionally, the rate at which employers pay NICs on an employee’s salary will increase from 13.8% to 15%, and the threshold at which they start paying NICs will reduce from £9,100 a year to £5,000. Not all businesses will be impacted by this thanks to the Employment Allowance increasing at the same time, but the majority will.

All these changes mean millions of UK businesses will find it far more expensive to employ people. It’s time to start preparing now, so make this resolution while you still have a few months.

How to achieve this business resolution in 2025

1. Optimising staff scheduling can reduce unnecessary labour costs. Match staffing levels to demand to avoid overstaffing during quieter periods while still having enough employees during peak business hours.
2. Reduce your NICs by introducing salary sacrifice. This allows employees to lower their gross salary in exchange for non-cash benefits like pension contributions or a cycle-to-work scheme. This reduces the salary on which employers’ National Insurance contributions are calculated. 
3. To make staff expenses more affordable, cut overhead costs in other areas, such as outsourcing certain business functions, reducing your office space, negotiating with suppliers, or cancelling your subscriptions.

2. Be more environmentally conscious: reduce your waste

As the climate crisis becomes increasingly worrying, many business leaders are stepping up and recognising their ability to make an impact.

This is especially relevant now as new recycling legislation is coming into force on 31 March 2025. All businesses in England with 10 or more full-time employees will be legally obligated to separate their food waste from dry recyclables and general waste. Micro-businesses (those with fewer than 10 full-time employees) are temporarily exempt until March 2027.

As well as separating materials, businesses must arrange for an approved waste management provider to collect recyclables, including glass, metal, plastic, paper and card, and food waste.

More strict environmental regulations are likely to follow, so taking proactive steps to address waste now can help future-proof your business and avoid potential penalties.

It will also demonstrate that you’re a conscious, responsible business, winning points with customers, employees and other stakeholders with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities. If you’re particularly driven by this, you could make sustainability a core company value and consider gaining a B Corp Certification.

How to achieve this business resolution in 2025

1. Reduce your team’s waste, particularly by implementing ways to reduce food waste, before the new legislation takes effect. Encourage your team to cut back on single-use plastics and opt for digital documents instead of unnecessary paper printing. 
2. Reduce packaging waste. If your business ships products, opt for minimal, eco-friendly packaging made from recycled or biodegradable materials. If you operate a physical store, encourage customers to bring their reusable bags or containers. You could also switch to suppliers that use sustainable packaging. 
3. Reduce your energy consumption. Turn off forgotten electronics such as chargers and screens left on standby overnight and switch to energy-efficient appliances. These measures can also lead to significant savings on utility bills. 

3. Be more productive: start using artificial intelligence (AI) 

AI has been a hot topic this past year, though not everyone is taking advantage of it yet.

According to a recent report by the British Chambers of Commerce, despite growing acceptance that AI has the potential to boost productivity, only 1 in 4 small to medium-sized businesses use it. Micro-businesses—those with 10 employees or fewer—are particularly resistant, with nearly half stating they don’t even intend to start using AI in the foreseeable future.

This is also despite evidence that entrepreneurs using AI make more money. A recent study by Venture Forward and GoDaddy shows that 78% of AI-supported micro-businesses expect revenue growth over the next year, versus 58% not using AI. 

Businesses that use AI spend less time on mindless, repetitive tasks and more time doing high-value tasks that contribute to business growth. So, if you haven’t already, it’s time to make a resolution to start using AI to make your business more productive (and profitable).  

How to achieve this business resolution in 2025

1. Make a free account on ChatGPT. This is the world’s most famous and popular AI chatbot. 
2. Start by telling it about your business, then give it tasks to save yourself time. For example, “Generate 5 creative marketing ideas” or “Write a response to a potential client who is hesitant about the price”. Chat with it back and forth to help it create more accurate, useful, and contextually relevant responses. 
3. Share what you learn with your team. If you figure out how to delegate common, repetitive tasks to ChatGPT or another AI tool, the more people who know about it, the better. This will encourage others to get on board and figure out other ways to use this free technology and increase everyone’s efficiency over time.

4. Expand your business: launch a rebrand

Consider rebranding if you wish to grow your business in new areas in 2025. A fresh brand identity can help you connect with new audiences by making your business more appealing to their preferences and demographics.

For example, modernising your design and messaging can make your business more relevant to younger, trend-focused generations. You can also update your brand to highlight your values, such as sustainability or diversity, to target more socially conscious audiences.

You may want to change your company name to reflect your business’s new direction—use the Rapid Formations search tool to check whether your new name is available. This may be essential if you wish to expand into international markets, as some names are unpronounceable in other languages or, even worse, have undesirable meanings. Fun fact: when Schweppes Tonic Water launched in Italy, locals understood it to be “Schweppes Toilet Water.”

Any updates you make should be woven consistently across all your brand assets, including your website, social media pages, advertising, sales decks, packaging, and shopfront. Find out more in our comprehensive guide, Branding 101.

Setting this resolution and launching a rebrand at the start of the year allows you to create a full calendar of marketing campaigns to leverage your new identity. It also shows stakeholders that your business is forward-thinking and committed to expansion.

How to achieve this business resolution in 2025

1. Think beyond your existing customers. Consider what new demographics, preferences and regions your brand could start to target.
2. Consider how you can shift your brand’s current identity to appeal to that audience. This may mean redesigning your logo, colour palette, or typography and rewriting your brand’s tone of voice and slogans. Rapid Formations can also help you complete a formal change of company name with Companies House.
3. Plan a successful launch. Start by communicating the reasons behind the change to your employees, customers, and stakeholders to build excitement around the business’s new direction. Then, create a marketing strategy to showcase your brand to your expanded audiences and bring in new business.

5. Prioritise well-being: take care of yourself

As exciting as it is to set ambitious goals for the new year, it’s just as important to take care of yourself so you have the energy needed to achieve them.  

Many business owners are guilty of letting their passion get the better of them by working well above and beyond typical 9-5 working hours. It’s easy to fall into the trap of overworking when you’re the one in charge, but as the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.  

Prioritising your well-being isn’t a selfish act—it’s essential for the long-term success of your business. When you’re physically and mentally at your best, you’ll be more productive, creative, and a better leader for others. A healthy, happy business owner is the backbone of a thriving business. 

How to achieve this business resolution in 2025

1. Set boundaries around your working hours. Make a conscious effort to switch off at a reasonable time and resist the urge to check in during your personal downtime. This also means delegating tasks to others so you don’t feel responsible for every aspect of your business at all times of the day.  
2. Incorporate exercise into your routine. This time to yourself is key to boosting your mood, reducing stress, and increasing your energy levels. Try scheduling a daily short walk or workout in the same way you would a business meeting so it becomes an integral part of your day. 
3. Prioritise your sleep. A good night’s rest is crucial for staying sharp and focused, so aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep per night. This includes avoiding screens for at least an hour before bed to help you wind down properly. 

Final thoughts

There you have it, 5 resolutions to help your business succeed over the coming year. Whether you focus on one or tackle all five, your effort in January will bring you closer to building the thriving, resilient business you’ve always envisioned. 

Check out the Rapid Formations blog for more ideas and inspiration, and please let us know in the comments below if you have any questions.