Every year, I watch teams scramble to schedule their Annual Planning around their financial year-end. In NZ, it’s the 31st of March. In Australia, it’s the end of June. They’re often trying to match it up with reporting deadlines, board presentations, or tax season.
I get it – it feels logical.
But here’s the problem.
Annual Planning isn’t about your financial year.
It’s about building momentum.
It’s about completing a 90-day cycle, learning from real results, & planning the next chapter with clarity & traction.
When we rush that process to fit an external date, we lose the power of EOS.
What Annual Planning Really Is in EOS
As part of the EOS Proven Process, the Annual Planning day is simply a longer Quarterly. Yes, we’re still reviewing the last 90 days. But we’re also zooming out to align the whole leadership team for the year ahead.
Here’s what makes Annual Planning different:
- We revisit the 3-Year Picture
- We reset the 1-Year Plan
- We confirm measurables & priorities
- We check in on team health
All of that relies on one thing: having finalised numbers and full visibility of the last quarter.
If you haven’t closed off the quarter yet – what are you really planning from?
Why Financial Year Dates Don’t Help
In theory, it makes sense to align Annual Planning with the financial calendar. But EOS isn’t theory – it’s built for real-world entrepreneurs.
And here’s what happens in practice:
💡 Businesses rush into planning without complete data
💡 Leadership teams meet during holidays or at the worst time of year
💡 Sessions get postponed… & the 90-day rhythm falls apart
Take New Zealand for example. If we rigidly followed the December quarter-end, we’d be holding Annual Planning in the first week of January. Really? Who wants to swap beach time for a strategic planning day?
Australia’s not much better – late June means EOFY chaos. Why would you try to make important long-term decisions while your accountant is blowing up your inbox?
What Works Better? 90-Day Rhythm.
At the heart of EOS is a simple truth: the 90-day world just works. Humans, especially busy entrepreneurs, can stay focused for about 90 days. That’s why every leadership team I work with sets Rocks for 90 days. That’s why Quarterly Pulsing keeps them accountable. And that’s why Annual Planning only works when we respect that rhythm.
You need time to:
- Gather the data
- Reflect on what happened
- Predict what’s next
The goal isn’t to line up with tax deadlines. It’s to build a predictable, data-driven, healthy leadership team that knows how to execute.
Real-Life Example: Mike’s Firm from Fireproof
In the book Fireproof, Mike shares how his law firm could predict revenue within 0.01% every year. Not because of luck. Because they tracked the right measurables, every single week, on a Scorecard.
They understood the operational levers that influenced results. They weren’t reacting to their financial year – they were actively predicting their future. That’s the power of EOS.
So What Should You Do?
Here’s my advice to every EOS client:
- Schedule your Annual Planning 90 days after your last Quarterly
- Wait until your final numbers are ready
- Don’t book in January unless your whole team loves spreadsheets & strategy meetings more than the beach
- Stop letting your accountant’s calendar drive your strategy
- EOS gives you a rhythm for a reason. Stick to it. That rhythm is what builds traction – not the calendar.
Final Thought
Annual Planning isn’t about ticking off compliance boxes or aligning with tax returns. It’s about building a clear, actionable plan for the next 12 months – with a healthy, focused, aligned leadership team who knows how to execute.
So, the next time you’re tempted to reschedule your session to “fit” the financial year, ask yourself:
“Do I want to run a business based on tax deadlines – or on traction?”
Want help getting your Annual Planning rhythm sorted? Let’s talk.
📧 Email me directly at debra@businessaction.com.au
Written by Debra Chantry-Taylor, FBA Accredited Family Business Advisor, Certified EOS Implementer & Founder of Business Action.
Business Action is focused on helping Entrepreneurs lead better lives, through creating a better business. We have a small team of accredited family business advisors, EOS Implementers & Leadership coaches, as well as access to a huge range of advisors through our Trusted Partners Network.
