October isn’t just pumpkin spice season, it’s the start of what I like to call entrepreneurial reckoning season.
Every year around this time, I start to see it happen.
Business owners look up from the chaos of day-to-day work, realize there are only a handful of weeks left in the year, and suddenly panic hits:
“Wait… how much did I actually make this year?”
“Did I ever categorize those expenses?”
“Where did that QuickBooks login email go again?”
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. You’re just in the thick of what I affectionately call the October Reckoning — that moment when you realize your books might be less “beautifully balanced” and more “haunted mansion of missing receipts.”
But here’s the thing: October is not too late. It’s actually the perfect time to take control.
Because right now, you still have the one thing that vanishes completely come January 1st — leverage.
Why October Matters More Than You Think
When you wait until tax season to face your numbers, you’ve already lost the ability to do anything about them.
By the time you’re meeting with your accountant in March, the story is already written, you’re just reading the ending.
But in October? You can still change the plot.
✅ You can make strategic purchases before year-end to lower your taxable income.
✅ You can clean up your books and spot trends while they still matter.
✅ You can finally answer the question, “Did I actually make money this year… or did I just stay busy?”
This is the month where clarity meets opportunity. But only if you stop avoiding your numbers long enough to look at them.
The “Face Your Numbers” Framework
If you don’t know where to start, here’s what I tell every client in Q4:
- Review your revenue — not just what you earned, but what’s actually collected. Unpaid invoices are not profit.
- Revisit your expenses — identify what’s essential and what’s been quietly draining your bank account.
- Reconcile your accounts — it’s boring, but this is where 90% of hidden mistakes live.
- Project your taxes now — don’t let April be the first time you realize how much you owe.
- Set a Q4 goal that isn’t about hustle. Maybe it’s cleaning up your books, finally hiring a bookkeeper, or creating a financial dashboard.
The goal isn’t perfection, it’s awareness. Because once you know the numbers, you control the narrative.
The Real Secret to Finishing the Year Strong
Everyone loves the idea of a “fresh start” in January. But the truth is, strong finishes build stronger beginnings.
If you spend October and November cleaning, planning, and getting real about your financial picture, December becomes a strategy month, not a scramble month.
So pour yourself something caffeinated (or spiked, depending on your mood), light a candle, and open those books. Face the haunted house now, so January feels like a blank page, not a crime scene.
Your business — and your future self — will thank you.
