As 2024 progresses, it’s a good time for business owners to reflect on the state of their business and the factors that matter most to their success.

The most successful companies will be those with leaders who are keenly versed in knowing costs structures, focused on core competencies and understand the market. These fundamental skill sets can equate to successful bottom lines, regardless of your specific industry or economic conditions.

Given this, here are a few steps business leaders can take for a good year.

One resource that almost all business owners will need is capital — be it from efficiencies and cost reductions or from your bank or the SBA. In 2023, Bank of America provided $93 million to New Hampshire small business owners, reflecting the strength and vibrancy of entrepreneurs.

Despite demand, many entrepreneurs face difficulties accessing capital. Traditional bank loans may feel like the strongest capital source, but it’s important to consider that it might not be the best fit for your business. This is where business grants that do not need to be repaid can help bolster your small business finances.

Also, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) can be helpful sources of capital for underserved entrepreneurs. The New Hampshire Community Loan Fund was one of the first Community Development Financial Institutions in the nation and helps drive economic mobility by providing lending and technical assistance to businesses owned by women and people of color.

In January 2022, in partnership with the Manchester NAACP, the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund launched the Community-Driven Economic Empowerment (C-DEE) pilot program in Manchester. The program aimed to bring women and people of color together as a community to create a more resilient local economy in which more of their businesses thrive. The pilot program was funded in part by Bank of America.

If you’re looking for somewhere to start, ask your banker or visit Bank of America’s Access to Capital Directory , which offers a variety of free and low-cost capital resources to consider.

It’s important to evaluate your hiring or retention processes, as nearly half of small business owners are impacted by labor shortages, according to Bank of America’s 2023 Women & Minority Business Owner Spotlight , often leading to entrepreneurs working more hours and raising wages. Whether it’s sourcing candidates, setting a clear employee growth timeline, or creating an internship program, businesses can explore various ways to bring candidates to the interview table. As talent acquisition grows increasingly competitive, our bankers have also been working with more businesses to offer benefits packages as additional ways to recruit and retain top talent.

Take time to set S.M.A.R.T. expectations and goals for your team — meaning goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. If you didn’t already, it’s also important to acknowledge the great work your team did in the prior year, which can serve as a motivating factor for growth in 2024.

As the nation’s top small business lender that has served New Hampshire for more than 160 years, Bank of America is proud to offer these steps that can help put your business on the path to a strong and successful 2024.

Jeffrey Sotolongo is a Small Business Region Executive for the New England Region at Bank of America.