The best 2027 planner for small business owners (and how to choose one you’ll actually use)
It’s that time of year. You’re typing “2027 planner” into Google, scrolling past a hundred pretty diaries, and wondering which one will actually help your business. Not just look nice on your desk.
I’ve been making planners for small business owners since 2017, so I’ve got opinions! Here’s what I’d look for in a 2027 business planner, whichever one you choose. And then I’ll show you mine.
What to look for in a 2027 planner for your business
A normal diary tells you what day it is. A business planner should tell you what to DO. These are the seven things that make the difference.
1. It starts with your numbers
If you don’t know what you need to sell, you can’t plan the marketing to sell it. Look for a planner that asks for your sales target for the year and breaks it down into months, so it feels doable rather than terrifying.
2. A marketing plan for every month (not a blank page)
Blank pages are lovely in theory. In practice, you stare at them. The best planners ask you a few simple questions each month: what are your customers thinking about, what are you selling, and how are you going to tell people about it?
3. Key dates you can use in your marketing
Mother’s Day, Black Friday, bank holidays, awareness days... they creep up on all of us. A good 2027 planner puts them in front of you early enough to plan for them, not the night before.
4. Somewhere for your money
Marketing and money go together. If your planner has room for your cash flow (what came in, what went out), you’ll SEE which marketing is working.
5. Weekly pages with room to write
Your week is where the plan turns into action. You want enough space for every day, and somewhere to note your win of the week. (You’ll be amazed how much you get done when you start writing the wins down.)
6. Help when you’re stuck
Most planners leave you on your own on 2nd January. Look for one that comes with training or examples, so you know what to write on every page.
7. Something to keep you going after February
This is the big one. Be honest: how many planners have you bought that ended up in a drawer by February? It’s not because you’re rubbish. It’s because a book can’t give you a nudge. Accountability, a reminder, other people doing it alongside you: that’s what keeps a planner open.
Paper or app? You don’t have to choose. A paper planner is brilliant for thinking and planning; an app is brilliant for ticking things off on the go. More on that in Paper planner or app? Why the 2027 Awesome Marketing Planner is both.
Why I made the Awesome Marketing Planner
Ten years ago I made my very first marketing planner, for 2017, because I needed it. A planner for my MARKETING, not just my appointments. And people loved it, so I made it again, year after year.
Then I took a couple of years off. Life happened! And people have asked me every single year when it’s coming back. So for 2027 it’s back, as a 10-year anniversary edition, and it’s here to stay.
Because here’s the thing: when your marketing is written down, it gets DONE. When it’s floating around in your head, it just sits there making you feel guilty.
It’s not just a planner. It’s a planner SYSTEM.
I built the 2027 edition around all seven of the things above, and especially number seven. So it isn’t just a book. It’s six parts that work together:
- 📖 The printed PlannerA5 hardback in midnight blue with gold foil, a bright pink ribbon, and a monthly bundle for every month of 2027.
- 🎓 The Planner PortalMy training videos for every page, so you know exactly what to write. QR codes in the planner take you straight there.
- 📱 The planner appNew for 2027: your numbers, your cash flow, ideas when you’re stuck, and a marketing streak (like Duolingo, but for your marketing).
- 👭 The Facebook groupPlan alongside other women in business using the same planner. Yours as soon as you pre-order.
- 👢 The Monday Bum KickAn email from me every Monday morning with one thing to do that week. A friendly kick up the bum when you need it most.
- 🖍️ The ExtrasWorksheets, extra resources to print, and a bit of colouring for the days you need to slow down.
What’s inside the printed planner
- My 2027 in numbers: your sales target for the year, broken down so it feels doable
- My 2027 promotions: your sales, launches and offers for the whole year
- 2027 at a glance, plus key dates for the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada and Australia
- A monthly bundle for every month, starting on the 1st: a month-to-view calendar, what your customers are thinking about, a getting-seen tip, a visibility challenge, your marketing plan, your money plan, your social media plan and your daily cash flow
- Weekly pages with room for every day and your win of the week
- Quarterly check-ins after March, June and September
- Your Sales Train: a map of the journey your customers take, and how to keep them on board
- For the wobbly days: a mind-monkey squashing page and a page to collect the lovely things people say about you
- Your 2027 review and 2028 at a glance
And a couple of my rescue chickens are hiding in the pages for you to find. 🐔
Who it’s for (and who it isn’t)
The Awesome Marketing Planner is for you if you run a small business and your marketing happens “when you get round to it”. If you love a proper paper planner and you’d love it paired with an app on your phone. And if you want 2027 to be the year you’re CONSISTENT.
It’s probably not for you if you want an undated diary you can start any time (this one runs January to December 2027), or if you just want somewhere to write your appointments. There are lovely simple diaries for that!
The practical bits
- Size: A5 hardback, so it fits in your bag
- Dates: January to December 2027
- Posting: printed to order and posted in December, from the UK to anywhere
- Pre-order only: I print exactly what’s needed, so nothing’s wasted. Pre-orders close on Sunday 8th November.
- Starting early: the Facebook group is yours straight away; the Planner Portal, the app and the extras open in December, so you can set up your year before January
Comparing planners? I’ve put the different kinds side by side in 2027 planners compared.
Whichever planner you choose for 2027, choose one that helps you plan your marketing, keeps your numbers in front of you, and gives you a nudge when life gets busy. That’s what I made mine to do.
Love, Claire x
Your questions
Is the Awesome Marketing Planner dated?
Yes. It runs from January to December 2027, with 2027 at a glance at the front and 2028 at a glance at the back, ready for your big plans.
How big is it?
It’s A5 and hardback, so it fits in your bag and stands up to a year of being carried around.
When will my planner arrive?
Planners are printed to order after pre-orders close and posted in December, ready for the new year. UK post usually takes 2 to 3 working days. Ireland, Europe and the rest of the world can take one to three weeks.
Do you post outside the UK?
Yes, from the UK to anywhere. If you’re ordering from outside the UK, choose “Anywhere else” when you pre-order: there’s no UK VAT on the planner.
When do pre-orders close?
Pre-orders close on Sunday 8th November. The 2027 print run is based on the pre-orders, so get yours in before then.