Amid the continued inflation, high-stakes presidential election, and talent shortages of 2024, many small businesses are eagerly anticipating a fresh start in 2025. During the final quarter of this year, business owners are already laying the groundwork for reaching their big goals in the year ahead.
Below, five entrepreneurs shared their 2025 small business resolutions and how they plan to achieve them. These business owners all aspire to have an even greater impact on their communities and the people they serve through their work.
Introduce new products made with locally grown kelp
Biddeford, Maine–based Atlantic Sea Farms is the first commercial seaweed farm in the United States and is responsible for the majority of the country’s seaweed farming. This vertically integrated business produces kelp seeds, sells them to local fishermen, and buys back their harvests to produce and sell kelp-based products to consumers.
Founder and CEO Briana Warner says Atlantic Sea Farms’ biggest business goal for 2025 is to launch new high-nutrition products made with regeneratively grown U.S. seaweed.
“Our new products will give more people across the country access to kelp grown by Maine family ocean farms,” said Warner. “The more kelp we sell, the more impact we have on diversifying waterfront incomes in the face of climate change while mitigating some of the effects of climate change.”
Launch a scholarship program to make gymnastics classes more accessible
Industry Gymnastics is a Long Island City, New York–based gymnastics facility that has created an inclusive space for gender-expansive kids, children with special needs, and those who simply love gymnastics. Natalie Fuertes, Founder and Owner of the gym, believes this inclusivity is “transformative for children’s mental health and growth” and wants to bring this experience to as many students as possible.
“We’d like to launch a scholarship program to make our classes accessible to low-income and underrepresented families,” Fuertes said. “For us to make this happen, we need to get our name out there and partner with those who believe in the power of community, inclusivity, and change. With grants, corporate partnerships, angel investors, and community fundraising, we’re set on making this vision a reality.”
[Read more: 10 Goal-Setting Methodologies to Use at Your Business]
Greg Lard, master franchise owner & area developer, Woof Gang Bakery
Who we are: A specialty retailer of pet food, pet supplies, and professional pet grooming serving the Savannah, Georgia area.
Woof Gang Bakery began as a traditional pet store in Orlando, Florida. We expanded into services after a few years and we’ve seen an explosion in service-related revenues. This year alone, our locations will groom over 1 million dogs in the stores. As our CEO, Paul Allen, has always said, “Services are the future of Woof Gang Bakery.”
If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that pet owners love their pets just as much as, and in some cases more than, traditional family members. For a vast majority of people, their pets were their only companions during the early days of the pandemic, and in some cases this continues to be true. Pet owners have grown even more attached to their animals just as the pets are even more attached than ever to their pet parents.
For us, 2021 will bring a focus on expanding services in all our existing locations, increased square footage dedicated to services, larger grooming salons, more grooming employees and a refocus on the growth of our spa services for dogs.
Many pet parents are feeling anxiety and guilt for leaving their pets at home as they return to work and we plan to offer services and features that help the pets and the pet parents make that transition smoother and less painful. Follow Woof Gang Bakery on Instagram and Facebook.
The more I can translate our knowledge of neuroscience to teach my clients "how to be their own CEO," the more confident and competent they will feel.Rebecca Mannis, PhD., Learning Specialist, Ivy Prep Learning Center
Open new locations to bring locally farmed coffee to new cities
787 Coffee is known for two things: Its unique and delicious coffee, grown directly by the company on its own farm in Puerto Rico, and the vibrant, creative atmosphere in its New York, Texas, and Puerto Rico coffee shops. Founder and CEO Brandon Peña hopes to bring 787’s locally grown coffee to three more cities in 2025, which will bring the company closer to its goal of 100 coffee shops in less than five years.
“Our mission to be a force for good continues as we deepen our commitment to sustainability—reducing waste and honoring the environment from our farm in Puerto Rico to our coffee shops,” Peña told CO—. “Expanding our coffee empire while staying true to our values will guide us as we introduce new locations and online offerings. In everything we do, we aim to uplift the communities we serve and inspire others.”
Establish partnerships to help American businesses expand globally
Since founding Aquantuo in 2016, Clement Owusu-Donko has worked to facilitate seamless cross-border commerce in a growing number of African countries. This Dover, Delaware–based company allows customers in eight African nations to purchase products directly from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and China online, while Aquantuo handles international shipping, customs clearance, and last-mile delivery.
Owusu-Donko says one of his business’s primary goals for the new year is to establish e-commerce and 3PL (third-party logistics) partnerships that help U.S.-based businesses reach the untapped African market.
“Our goal is to be seamlessly integrated into their checkout systems, giving African shoppers the option to ship directly to Africa at the time of checkout … [and] ultimately boosting the market share of U.S.-based businesses,” he said. “For businesses looking at 3PL/4PL offerings, we are positioned to offer warehousing in the U.S. or Africa to be able to warehouse and fulfill orders for them as we integrate our 3PL software directly into their platforms.”
[Read more: 6 Things to Consider Before Taking Your Business Global]
Refine care and working relationships with worldwide students
Rebecca Mannis, PhD., is a Learning Specialist who strives to improve educational outcomes through individualized instruction suited to each student’s learning style. Her biggest goal for her business, Ivy Prep Learning Center, is to refine how she provides expert care for her global student base while maintaining a strong, close working relationship.
“The ‘executive function’ demands of staying organized, efficient, and focused in our age of information overload can be overwhelming — for my clients and for me!” Mannis explained. “The more I can translate our knowledge of neuroscience to teach my clients ‘how to be their own CEO,’ the more confident and competent they will feel. Our working relationship will grow stronger through [these efforts, and] … to me, the working relationship is central to excelling at learning and workplace goals.”
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
Nelson Floyd IV, roaster & co-founder, Speakeasy Coffee Company
Who we are: A small-batch specialty coffee roaster and coffee bar located in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania.
I suppose, in a lot of ways, 2020 will be monumentalized as the “year of the unknown.” For small business owners, this year has allowed for much examination, questioning, re-examination and hard decision-making.
Despite the confusion and angst, I was able to launch a long-time dream and project of mine: The Coffee Bar at Speakeasy Coffee Company.
I am hopeful that the stress of this year has been a tempering of sorts.
In 2021, we will focus on our continued effort to adapt to the needs of our customers with a more efficient online presence and more streamlined order fulfillment, and to never compromise our values and service to our community. Follow Speakeasy Coffee Company on Facebook & Instagram.
Adria Moynihan Rusk, artist & owner, Still Life Studio, LLC
Who we are: Private painting instruction for budding and experienced artists based in Portland, Maine.
In this pandemic year, it has become more important than ever to nurture ourselves in all possible ways — and painting is an incredible way to relax and stay nimble.
For many years, my business relied on local clients only; but when everything shut down in March of 2020, I moved most of my business online. I've since been able to carefully reopen, but I'm grateful to have found ways to translate the studio experience into virtual lessons as well, because now I can see students all over the world.
In 2021, I'll be growing my online presence as a real-time private painting instructor, as well as offering small group classes both in person and online. I will also be reaching out to corporate event planners to explore how painting workshops might fit into company retreats as a way to highlight resilience and creative expression. Follow Still Life Studio on Instagram & Facebook.
Renee Dessommes, director of operations, Brooklyn Slate
Who we are: Brooklyn, New York-based purveyors of American-made slate cheese boards, coasters and other fine tabletop goods.
We are truly excited for the new year and expect to continue to grow in both the wholesale and retail markets of 2021, even with the slow-downs in the supply chain due to COVID-19. Though our quarry and slate processors are still working with crews a fraction of their normal size, they are shipping to us regularly and we have been able to keep up with the increase in online demand.
We currently provide slate cheese boards and accessories to small retailers at quantities and prices that are manageable for them to make a profit. And while there have been some shipping slow-downs, we plan to pre-pack and overstock going into the new year so that our many small retailers never have empty displays.
In 2021, we plan to create even more options with the various sizes of the boards and the case pack configuration, giving small retailers more control over their offered products with more varieties. And we are expanding our engraving wing of the business by offering our current partners and retailers custom orders outside of our standard engraving options.
At the start of the new year, we will be working with US Marketplace, Inc., a new e-commerce site that focuses on U.S. brands who produce goods in the States. We also hope to offer glassware and small personal items for monogramming or custom engraving as gift sets from our site's retail store. Follow Brooklyn Slate on Instagram.
JoAnna Datz, founder & CEO, My Third Hand, Inc. and creator of Packaged Pandemonium
Who we are: A New York, New York-based company dedicated to supporting parents and caregivers of preschool-aged children with resources for at-home productive structured play and learning activities.
With childcare centers, schools and extracurricular facilities forced to close their doors, the many hats previously worn by a community—to care for, educate and entertain children—all became the sole responsibility of each child’s primary caregivers. All without notice or time to prepare.
Packaged Pandemonium is a caregivers’ enrichment program designed to help grown-ups of preschool-aged kiddos consistently connect with children on their level, all by embracing the effortlessly authentic nature of play. Our focus for 2021 is growing the roster, making this unique service available to more families.
Participating families are assigned a “JoJo,” who is their personal program consultant. JoJo prepares the content of your customized deliveries and provides one-on-one support to families in the form of Virtual Huddles (for caregivers) and/or Playdates with JoJo (for little ones).
Inclusive of all necessary supplies and materials for 25+ activities per delivery, Packaged Pandemonium guides caregivers of all abilities to confidently quarterback developmentally appropriate structured play and productive learning at home.
Whether you are a parent, grandparent or nanny, thanks to the inventiveness of My Third Hand, Inc., the program conveniently delivers the tools, resources and personalized support to caregivers to supplement what children are missing out on due to social-distancing restrictions. Follow Packaged Pandemonium on Instagram & Facebook.
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
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