If you’re a small business owner who loves what you do but dreads looking at your personal bank account, this one’s for you.
You’re pouring your energy into your work. You're making sales. You're even covering expenses. But somehow... your paycheck keeps coming last (if it comes at all).
This is one of the most common — and costly — mistakes I see small business owners make when it comes to paying themselves:
They wait to “see what’s left over.”
Instead of setting a clear salary plan, most business owners cross their fingers at the end of the month and hope there’s enough left in the bank to pay themselves.
This approach leads to:
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Inconsistent or skipped paychecks
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Scrambling during tax season
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Burnout (because your business feels like it’s taking more than it gives)
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A false sense that you can’t afford help, rest, or growth
But here's the truth:
Profit isn’t what’s left over. It’s what you plan for. And your paycheck works the same way.
What Should You Do Instead?
Flip the script. Pay yourself like the CEO you are — with clarity and consistency.
Here’s the simple shift:
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Determine your personal financial needs.
What do you need to earn each month to cover your household bills, savings, and financial goals? -
Translate that into a business revenue goal.
Using your margins, map out how much your business needs to earn to sustainably cover your salary and your business expenses. -
Build your business plan around this target.
This becomes your north star — not just “growth for growth’s sake,” but growth that funds your life.
Why This Works
When you treat your salary like a non-negotiable expense — just like rent or payroll — everything shifts.
You:
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Make smarter pricing and sales decisions
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Stop resenting your business for not supporting your life
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Gain the financial visibility to grow intentionally (not chaotically)
Need a Repeatable System?
That’s exactly why I created the Small Business Planner and our companion training, How to Pay Yourself a Consistent Salary. Thousands of small business owners have used it to finally feel in control of their income — no more guessing, no more guilt.
It walks you through how to:
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Reverse-engineer your revenue to hit your personal salary goals
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Set up the right bank account structure
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Plan for taxes and savings with ease
Ready to Start Paying Yourself Consistently?
You don’t need to guess anymore. You just need a system that works.
Inside How to Pay Yourself a Consistent Salary, I’ll walk you through how to:
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Set a take-home pay goal that reflects your real-life needs
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Reverse-engineer your revenue and pricing to make it possible
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Create a bank account structure that makes it automatic
This is the same method I’ve used with thousands of small business owners — and it’s designed to work whether your income is steady or seasonal.
Want the full roadmap to plan your salary, manage your money, and grow profitably?
Start with The Small Business Planner — the foundational tool that supports everything I teach.
And if you haven’t already, make sure to check out the full guide:
How to Pay Yourself a Salary as a Small Business Owner
—it’s the pillar post for this topic and a perfect next step.