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Opportunity in Inflation: Turning Rising Costs into Gains

Inflation may have quieted to around 3%, but its impact on small businesses remains significant. With subtle shifts in pricing, payroll, and supply expenses becoming the norm, these changes apply constant pressure on profit margins. However, inflation offers more than just challenges—it provides opportunities for strategic growth and innovation.

One of the silver linings of inflation is that it offers permission to make pivotal changes:

  • Permission to reprice—align your pricing with the enhanced value you deliver.
  • Permission to renegotiate—revisit vendor contracts and client agreements to better fit your current economic landscape.
  • Permission to rethink your business model—explore innovative revenue streams to increase resiliency.

As the year concludes—a prime time for reviewing budgets, projections, and compensation strategies—consider leveraging inflation as a catalyst for strategic opportunities rather than merely a hurdle to overcome.

Mindset Shift: Leveraging Inflation as a Strategic Tool

Many business owners view inflation as an economic downturn to endure quietly. However, savvy entrepreneurs see it as a reason to go on the offensive. Inflation provides a timely narrative for recalibrating prices, refining operational efficiency, and repositioning your offering's value to your clients.

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Remember, when costs escalate across the board, including raw materials and insurance, customers anticipate prices to rise. Use this window to implement necessary changes confidently, not reactively.

Step 1: Assertive Repricing

Small businesses often apologize for price increases, framing them as unavoidable necessities. Instead, shift your perspective towards value realignment:

“We've enhanced our processes, streamlined delivery, and invested in cutting-edge technologies to better serve you.”

If it's been over 18 months since your last price review, inflation offers a solid foundation for updates.

Step 2: Comprehensive Margin and Cash Flow Audit

Before finalizing your 2026 financial plans, perform an in-depth margin analysis:

  • Identify which services or products remain profitable.
  • Spot borderline or loss-making elements.
  • Assess which clients might be underpaying for received value.

Cross-reference this audit with your cash flow projections for more accurate budgeting. This approach ensures your decisions are data-driven rather than assumption-based, thus keeping control within your grasp. It's also an opportune time to secure vendor rates before any future tariff changes or supply disruptions.

Step 3: Adaptive Forecasting

Forecasting isn't about predicting inflation—it's about preparing for it. Employ a three-scenario approach:

  • Best case: Inflation decreases, and demand rises.
  • Base case: Inflation remains steady at 3%, driving gradual growth.
  • Stretch case: Costs increase due to tariffs, tightening cash flow.

This strategy builds business agility into your operations plan, transforming uncertainty into adaptability.

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Step 4: Aligning Compensation with Performance

Inflation affects employee expectations just as it affects costs. When setting 2026 compensation, focus on reward systems that highlight value creation:

  • Implement profit-sharing to link individual performance with overall business success.
  • Offer benefits with high perceived value, such as health stipends or flexible working arrangements.
  • Maintain transparency regarding financial objectives, as informed teams handle reality better than speculation.

Step 5: Preemptive Profit Protection

Whereas 8% inflation allowed easier blame for reduced profits, at 3%, proactive measures are crucial. Address factors like rising subscription costs, unnoticed vendor price increases, and underpriced longtime clients now.

Successful businesses will utilize this "quiet inflation" phase to:

  • Eliminate inefficiencies.
  • Replenish financial reserves.
  • Invest in technologies that boost efficiency (consider automation, AI, or improved client systems).

Inflation: A Strategic Opportunity

While you can't steer the economy, you can certainly dictate your response to it. Treat inflation not as a threat, but as an opportunity to redefine pricing, strengthen partnerships, and bolster profitability. Embrace this chance to lead proactively and halt playing on the defensive.

Prepare for Your 2026 Growth Path

It's time to audit your pricing strategies, forecast models, and compensation systems before the new year dawns. Make 2026 your year for margin enhancement instead of another year of tightening. Reach out to Ember Coaching & Financial Services for expert analysis, strategy refinement, and to enter the new year with confidence and command.

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