Planning Your Q3 Offers: What’s Working, What’s Not, and What’s Next

With the year halfway over, now is the perfect time to take a step back, review what’s been working in your business, and make intentional decisions about your next moves. For creative small business owners, Q3 (July through September) can be a season of quiet growth, strategy, and realignment before the year-end rush hits in Q4.

Whether you’re prepping for a summer promo, launching a new service, or just trying to stay consistent during vacation season, having a clear plan for your Q3 offers can help you stay focused, serve your clients well, and grow sustainably.

Here’s how to look at what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next so you can confidently move into the second half of the year with purpose and profit in mind.

Step 1: Look Back at Q1 and Q2

Before you plan ahead, take time to reflect. Pull out your financial reports, check in on your energy levels, and review your client experience. Some key questions to ask:

• What offers or services brought in the most revenue?

• Which ones were the most profitable after expenses and time spent?

• What felt easy and aligned with your strengths?

• What drained your time, energy, or creativity?

• Which clients or projects lit you up—and which ones didn’t?

This kind of honest reflection helps you identify patterns and avoid repeating strategies that don’t serve you (or your bank account).

Step 2: Assess What’s Still Working

If something’s working well—keep it going. Not everything needs to be reimagined or rebranded. Some signs your current offers are in a good place:

• They consistently attract ideal clients

• You’re booked at or near capacity

• You’re seeing strong profit margins (not just high revenue)

• Clients are referring others or giving positive feedback

• You still enjoy delivering the service or product

If all signs point to yes, your focus might just be optimizing and promoting those existing offers more effectively in Q3.

Step 3: Let Go of What’s Not Serving You

It’s tough to say goodbye to an offer you’ve spent time developing—but if it’s not profitable, draining your energy, or attracting the wrong clients, it might be time to hit pause or let it go completely.

Here’s how to tell it’s time to move on:

• You’ve promoted it consistently and it’s still not selling

• The price point doesn’t match the effort it requires

• It no longer fits your brand or goals

• You dread delivering it or feel burned out afterward

Removing underperforming or misaligned offers creates space for better ones—and gives you time to refine what truly works.

Step 4: Plan Your Q3 Strategy

Now that you know what to keep and what to cut, it’s time to plan what’s next. Ask yourself:

• Do I need to create a new offer or simply adjust an existing one?

• What are my revenue goals for Q3?

• What capacity do I have this summer—for clients, launches, or marketing?

• Are there seasonal needs my clients have in July–September that I can solve?

Some common Q3 ideas:

• A simplified “summer special” or shorter-term offer

• A beta version of a new service or course

• A mid-year check-in or refresh session for existing clients

• Bundling existing products or services into a limited-time package

• Early access to fall services (great for wedding industry, creatives, or consultants)

Remember: not every offer has to be big or brand new. Sometimes a thoughtful tweak or a fresh way of packaging your expertise is all you need.

Step 5: Align Your Offers with Your Calendar

Planning your Q3 offers also means looking realistically at your calendar. Be honest about:

• When you’ll be out of office or taking time off

• Major deadlines or personal commitments

• Marketing windows you want to take advantage of (like Back to School or Labor Day)

Then reverse-engineer your launch or promo dates accordingly. Make space for prep time, promo time, and rest. Don’t cram your calendar—give yourself breathing room.

Step 6: Map Out a Simple Promo Plan

Once your offer is set, think about how you’ll promote it. You don’t need an over-the-top launch to make sales. A focused, consistent plan often does the trick.

Your Q3 promo plan might include:

• One weekly email to your list (value + promo)

• A few social media posts each week with different angles

• Testimonials or results from past clients

• A clear call to action and deadline

• A behind-the-scenes look at your process or why you created the offer

Make sure you’re speaking directly to your ideal client’s needs this season. Keep the messaging clear, relatable, and focused on how your offer helps them solve a real problem.

Step 7: Keep It Simple and Sustainable

The best Q3 plan is one that feels good to you—not one that burns you out. If summer is a slower season, that’s okay. Use the time to refine your systems, update your workflows, or create content that will serve you long-term.

If you’re busy, lean on what already works and streamline wherever possible. Delegate what you can, automate what you can, and give yourself grace. You don’t have to do everything—just the right things for your goals.

Final Thoughts

Planning your Q3 offers with intention helps you avoid reactive, last-minute decisions and move forward with clarity. Use this season as a chance to reset, refocus, and make smart, simple moves that support your business goals.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel—just keep your eyes on what truly brings in revenue, profit, and joy. That’s what leads to sustainable growth, not just in Q3, but all year long.

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Who doesn’t?! Check out The Ultimate Accounting Checklist, your guide for managing and maintaining your business finances with ease.