Looking for a dash of extra motivation to catapult you into this new year of biz? Take a gander below to discover some nuggets of wisdom from three of our favourite small-business owners as they offer up some tips and tricks that will set you on the right path for 2026.

VINISHA MULANI – FOUNDER OF SISA STUDIOConstraints help your creativity, and partnerships help you progress. Get creative with your constraints, and make the most of what you have available. Whether it’s where you live or the resources you have – you might think they set you back in some ways, but those are the things that might actually set you apart. 

And I know sometimes it’s tempting (and necessary) to do a lot yourself when you’re starting a business, but asking for help and advice and partnering with the right people can really help your progress. With Sisa Studio, it’s only when I started asking around and teaming up with clever, creative people that I felt more confident (and accountable) to launch the business and move it forward. 

RITA KANJI – FOUNDER OF THOUSAND APOLOGIESFor me, the new year starts nice and slow – on purpose. I know things won’t stay quiet for long, so I treat this moment as a pause before the push. I like to look back at the year that was: the wins, the wobbles, the occasional meltdown (ha), and the lessons that stuck. I feed off momentum, but it’s the one time of year where I balance ambition with realism, and where sustainability becomes just as important as growth.

I begin with a loose but intentional plan. I love lists and the satisfaction of crossing things off, but I keep them short. I focus on what will genuinely move the business forward, so I don’t get distracted by things that don’t really matter. Outside of work, a daily meditation practice helps me stay present, alongside prioritising acts of love for the people in my life. This is what really matters to me, and it shapes how I show up in both life and work.

Finally, each year I commit to learning something new that has nothing to do with the business. It forces me to step away for a moment and reminds me there’s more to me than my work – and, unexpectedly, makes me better at it.

KRISTY DICKINSON – FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF HAUS OF DIZZY
Snap by Shannyn Higgins.

My advice to any small-business owner this new year: stay unapologetically you. There’s power in owning your uniqueness, your creativity, your voice, and your vision. No one else can do what you do, and that’s your superpower!

Be organised, yes, but let your creativity lead the way. Find inspiration in the everyday, your community, and your own experiences. And always lift others as you grow, celebrate their wins, share what you know, and make space for collaboration. Supporting others doesn’t take away from your shine, it makes the whole community stronger.

Take pride in your voice, trust your instincts, and embrace being fully yourself. Stay true, stay bold, and remember: no one can be you, and that’s exactly what makes your journey so powerful.

For more small-business stories like this, visit frankie.com.au/strictly-business, or sign up to our monthly e-newsletter. Have a small-business story you’d like to share? Pitch it to us.