The start of a new year often brings a surge of motivation—especially for people thinking about starting a business. The first months of the year feel like a clean slate, but is it actually the right time to launch? And for existing small business owners coming off a busy holiday season, how do you keep that momentum going instead of starting from scratch?
To get practical answers, I spoke with Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact. We talked about what really matters when starting a business (hint: timing isn’t everything), the most common mistakes new founders make, and how existing business owners can use what they learned during the holidays to build steady growth in the year ahead.
For Startups: Is Now the Right Time to Start a Business?
Rieva Lesonsky: Many people see the beginning of the year as a fresh start. From what you’re seeing, is now actually a smart time to start a business—or does that depend on the founder?
Dave Charest: January gets a lot of credit as a ‘fresh start,’ but starting a business is less about the month and more about the moment. Entrepreneurs move when opportunity shows up. No matter when you start, adversity is guaranteed, and the founders who succeed are the ones who can adjust quickly and keep going.
Lesonsky: For people feeling motivated right now, what should they realistically have in place before launching a business at the moment? What’s non-negotiable?
Charest: Before launching, two things are non-negotiable: you need to be solving a real problem, and you need to be offering something people are willing to pay for. If customers won’t trade dollars for it, it’s not a business yet. Beyond that, founders should be building real relationships in their community, owning a direct way to stay in touch with their audience, and being open to tools and technology that help them make progress without burning themselves out.
Lesonsky: What are the most common mistakes you see new business owners make when they rush to launch at the beginning of the year, or at any time—and how can they avoid them?
Charest: A common mistake is mistaking activity for progress, especially when it comes to marketing. Posting everywhere feels productive, but it rarely builds momentum. Founders avoid this by simplifying early, choosing one place to show up consistently, and investing early in ways to stay connected with customers directly so they can keep the business top of mind over time.
Lesonsky: How important is early customer validation in those first few months, and what are some low-risk ways new business owners can test demand?
Charest: Customer validation early on helps business owners avoid guessing. You don’t need a finished product to test demand. You can offer a simple version of the service, take pre-orders, run a small pilot, or even ask for commitments before you build anything. If people won’t engage or spend at that stage, that’s valuable feedback.
For Existing Business Owners: How to Keep Holiday Momentum Going
Lesonsky: How should small business owners use what they learned during the holiday season—customer behavior, sales data, engagement—to guide decisions in the new year?
Charest: Holiday season sales tell you a lot about what’s working. Customers chose you, and most plan to come back in the new year. The smart move is staying visible. You don’t need an elaborate plan. Even a simple ‘thank you for shopping with us’ email each month can keep your business top of mind and drive meaningful revenue, rather than starting from zero in Q1.
Lesonsky: What signs should business owners look for in Q1 to know whether they’re on the right track for the rest of the year?
Charest: What ‘on track’ looks like in Q1 depends on the business, especially if it’s seasonal. The most important signal isn’t explosive growth; it’s momentum with existing customers. If people who bought before are engaging again, opening emails, coming back, or making repeat purchases, that’s a strong sign the year is starting on solid ground.
Lesonsky: If you could give small business owners one piece of advice for starting—or continuing—the year strong, what would it be?
Charest: Keep it simple and stay adaptable. Pay attention to what customers respond to, use tools that save you time, and be willing to adjust as you learn. Momentum comes from steady progress, not perfect strategy.
Lesonsky: For business owners who feel both hopeful and a little exhausted right now, what would you say to them?
Charest: It’s okay to feel hopeful and tired at the same time. You don’t need to overhaul everything to make progress. Focus on the customers who have already chosen you, stay in touch, and make small changes that add up over time.
Whether you’re just getting started or trying to carry momentum forward, Dave’s advice points to the same truth: steady progress beats perfect timing every time.
Rieva Lesonsky is the founder of Small Business Currents, a content company focusing on small businesses and entrepreneurship. You can find her on Twitter @Rieva, Bluesky @Rieva.bsky.social, and LinkedIn. Or email her at Rieva@SmallBusinessCurrents.com.
Photo courtesy Jordan González for Unsplash+