From the founders of a social enterprise to a portable toilet empire, five owners of unique businesses share their Word of the Year and how it’s driving their small business planning for 2026.

The new year is the perfect time to take stock and set your business goals. But where do you start?

Whether you’re a business of one, five, 15 or 50, having a north star to work towards is essential. Think of it like a New Year’s Resolution you’ll actually keep.

But if you’re not sure how to set your intention, take a leaf out of the following businesses’ books.

Rachel Golding – Dinner on the Table

Rachel Golding from Dinner On The Table. Image: Alexander Mayes Photography.

Social enterprise Dinner on the Table delivers healthy, ready-made meals to families across NSW, the ACT and Victoria, as well as catering events in Sydney. Profits go towards providing food for families living with disability – a practical way to make the day easier for vulnerable families.

“In the year ahead, our goal is to grow Dinner on the Table’s impact across Western Sydney – supporting businesses moving into this growing area to care for their teams through great food and helping families ease the daily pressure of dinner,” says founder Rachel Golding.

“As our community expands, we want to be part of shaping workplaces and homes that are more connected, nourished, and supported.”

Rachel wants 2026 to be all about streamlining operations so it’s less about process – and more about people.

WORD OF THE YEAR: CONNECTION. “Because everything we do begins and ends with bringing people together over good food.”

Scott Rawson – Instant Products Group

Scott Rawson, founder of Instant Products Group. Image: Supplied.

Perth-based company Instant Products Group manufactures and supplies portable loos and showers, offices and sea containers for those who need them.

Founder and managing director Scott Rawson says streamlining operations is top of the list for 2026. “[We will] consolidate our manufacturing and hire operations into our one location at our new 200-acre manufacturing plant,” Scott says. “This will deliver operational efficiencies for our team and also allow us to better respond to maintenance in our hire fleet.”

Another goal is to use real-time data analytics to improve customer service, “which will help reduce the workload of key teams”.

WORD OF THE YEAR: EVOLVE. “Because we must continue to adapt our products and services to evolve and become relevant at all times to our customers for their needs.”

Samantha Dybac – The PR Hub

Samantha Dybac, founder of The PR Hub. Image: Supplied.

Sydney-based PR and strategic communications company The PR Hub is renowned for helping businesses, entrepreneurs and disruptive brands make their mark.

Founder Samantha Dybac says the coming year is about “deepening impact and scale, doing more of the work that drives real results for clients”.

That encompasses three focus areas: “Firstly, helping founders and CEOs cut through the noise to build authority,” Samantha says.

“Secondly, strengthening our leadership team to support sustainable growth.

“And finally, partnering with purpose-driven technology-enabled brands transforming their industries.”

WORD OF THE YEAR: MOMENTUM. “The year ahead is about harnessing the energy we’ve built focusing on what works, saying no to distractions, and leaning into the partnerships and ideas that drive us, and our clients, to the next level.”

Dr Vincent Candrawinata – Renovatio Bioscience

Dr Vincent Candrawinata from Renovatio Bioscience. Image: Supplied.

Dr Vincent Candrawinata’s anti-inflammatory supplement and multi-purpose skincare brand Renovatio Bioscience is available in 2000 stores across Australia – and by this time next year, will be in another 1000 in the US.

In 2026, his focus is on what he calls “generational health”.

“People everywhere are finding it harder to stay healthy amid hype, trends and misinformation,” he says. “My goal is to cut through that noise, more than just selling them products, but to give people back the power to make better, evidence-based decisions for their health. Knowledge is power, and I want to build an ecosystem that empowers through education, podcasts and accessible retail products.”

Like the other businesses, streamlining operations will be key – but done with care. “I want to make my company and brand work smarter, to scale without losing soul, so to speak,” he adds.

WORD OF THE YEAR: EMPOWER. “Because true wellness isn’t something you sell, it’s something you give back. Every product, conversation and piece of content we create will be about empowering people with knowledge, joy and tools to take control of their health.”

“This belief also extends beyond business. I feel incredibly privileged to be working with The Nappy Collective as their Advocate, the only charity in Australia dedicated to fighting nappy poverty. Giving families in crisis access to clean nappies isn’t just about health and hygiene, it’s about dignity, confidence and empowerment.”

Lana Hooper – Smoothie Bombs

Cinzia Cozzolino and Lana Hooper, founders of Smoothie Bombs. Image: Supplied.

Going into their 14th year of business, nutrition brand Smoothie Bombs has plans to evolve its range of smoothie boosters, proteins, pancake mixes to bring more high-quality health products into people’s pantries.

“Our main goal for 2026 is to bring a new range of nutrition-packed products to life – designed with direct input from our customers to help them achieve their health goals,” says co-founder Lana Hooper, who runs Smoothie Bombs with her mother Cinzia Cozzolino.

To keep up with the challenging economic climate, Hooper says they hope to reduce overheads and respond faster to changes by streamlining operations – things like automating repetitive tasks, simplifying workflows and planning marketing and product launches smarter. “This approach will help us stay competitive, while still delivering the personal touch and care our customers expect,” she adds.

WORD OF THE YEAR: EVOLVE. “For us, evolution means refining what works, letting go of what doesn’t and staying curious in a fast-changing world. It’s about growing smarter while remaining true to our purpose – helping people make healthier food choices every day.”

Takeaways

However different these businesses may be on the outside, they all share common threads. They want to make a bigger impact for the people and companies they serve, while getting more value out of their operations (working smarter, not harder).

Businesses that remain stagnant and don’t embrace change won’t see new opportunities arise. So, in 2026, think about how you might evolve your business, empower customers and teams, harness momentum and create connection to hit those goals out of the park.

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This article is brought to you by Business Builders in partnership with Budget Australia.