Didn’t Get The Q2 You Banked On: What’s Your Contingency Plan?
- Mary Beth Henderson
- May 25
- 4 min read
Updated: May 26
Spoiler: Mine started with a parking lot meltdown.
First thing Friday morning. I whip into the last free spot outside Switchyard, phone in hand for a quick scroll.
In the span of fifteen minutes, three emails come in. Three prospective projects collapsed. More than $70K in potential Q3 revenue? Gone.
Y'all. I cried.
In nearly ten years of running my own business, I’ve never cried over a lost opportunity. Not once. And yet - there I was - blubbering behind my sunnies in a parking lot. Low point.
Now. That would’ve been a gut punch any day. But we both know it wasn’t just about this hit on this day. It was the final straw in a season of life on hard.
And I know I’m not the only one feeling it.
Because here’s what I’m hearing - from clients, from peers, from other founders like me... Spring, that’s usually our Super Bowl, flatlined. Summer? Already sluggish. And even if the economy “stabilizes” (deep breath into paper bag), public perception isn’t expected to level out until maybe Q4.
So what do we do as small business owners?
When the season that’s supposed to keep us afloat fails to deliver…
When the pipeline feels more like a pipe dream…
When we’re out of widgets and wondering if we’ve lost the plot?
Here’s what I’m doing right now. Take anything you need.
Lean up now - without gutting your operations later.
Before you panic and chop up the company cards, start by pulling your P&L or credit card statements from the last 60 days. Start on those recurring costs - likely apps and subscriptions.
Then ask:
Is this directly tied to how I make money?
Is it making my life significantly easier?
Would I really miss it if it went away for 30 days?
If the answer is no? Cut or pause it. Even temporarily. Give yourself a little breathing room now to stave off some stress tomorrow.
And if you're not in the red yet? Do it anyway. Think like a seasonal business. Treat this like your off-season even if the calendar says Q2.
Pad the pipeline like the forecast is wrong - because it probably is.
If you're still clinging to deals that haven't closed in months - it’s time to reset the forecast. (I’m sorry…)
Take a hard look at:
Of the warm or hot leads in my pipeline, how many are in at-risk, hard hit spaces? Ex: government or government adjacent. Even if they want to, these simply may not be able to move forward.
Step away from “years prior” trending. Look at Q1. Then Q2. This isn’t about throwing out all your historical data - it’s about a start view at this snapshot in time. What is different?
How diverse are your opportunities? For example, are you figuratively and literally banking on a Tier 1 close or do you have prospects peppered across your lower and mid-range offerings?
Given all that, what would you need to see to feel confident? What are those numbers?
Now that we’ve gone through those mental gymnastics. Double it. That’s the new target.
If things do pick up? You're golden. And if they don’t? You won’t be as blindsided.
Add value before you slash prices.
We’re all seeing the “20% off” panic posts right now. It’s tempting. But here’s the thing: price cuts don’t build trust - they signal desperation and can cheapen your brand.
Instead of a discount code, consider:
Add a bonus 1:1 call to a package
Offering a digital download or template that you typically charge for
Extend payment flexibility or installment options for the right-fit client
This keeps your value intact while still meeting your clients where they are. And when they do have bigger budgets again? You won’t have to explain or justify your actual value.
Rethink the offers - not the business.
The bones of your business are probably good. Your prospects still need what you do. But right now? They're hesitating - scaling back, delaying and second-guessing.
That doesn’t mean your whole model needs a gut reno. It means your front door does.
Give them smaller yeses. Shorter commitments. Easier entry points.
Swap the full “done-for-you” for an approachable “do-it-with-you” version
Offer a 3-month opt-in instead of the usual 12-month contract
Add a 30-day cancellation window if it gets the deal across the line. I know. Not ideal. But sometimes you’ve gotta give to get
Look at a full-court-press scope and say, “Let’s pare it down. Here’s where we can start, and here’s what we’ll hold for later”
This isn’t discounting. It’s de-risking.
You’re not lowering the value. You’re removing the barriers. So the right people can say yes, faster.
What I’m Doing: The Clarity Consult
If this post hits close to home - if you're crying into your coffee cup or staring at your summer calendar wondering what the hell comes next - I’ve got something for you.
Cue the Clarity Consult. A 90-minute strategy session to help you:
Zoom out and get your bearings
Clarify where things stand - financially, mentally and structurally
Identify what’s not working and where to pivot
Leave with an actual plan, not just another pep talk (although we will do that too)
This isn’t coaching. It’s triage. That contingency plan. Support from someone who’s in it with you.
$250 flat
Limited to 5 spots in June 2025
Live session + follow-up delivered within 7 business days of booking
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