Thursday 22 December

The finishing line for 2011 is in sight. Hopefully, your business has had a successful year or, at the very least, you are preparing to get your venture off the ground in 2012.

But the year isn’t quite over yet. The next week, when many businesses shut for the year, is an ideal opportunity to assess how your start-up is faring as you prepare for a bigger and better 2012.

Today, we’ve compiled the five tasks you should tick off by the time the New Year arrives. Make sure you follow the list and get off to a fast start next year.

Elsewhere, mentor Fred Schebesta has some advice on whether to outsource your social media activity and we profile Organic Island, a business that has managed to crack the international market with an unusual product.