Many small businesses are self-funded by the owner. A business owner’s payment method can have critical tax and cash flow implications.
Small business owners need to prioritize their finances by paying themselves first. This could mean saving money, investing, or even building an emergency fund and paying off debts.
Pay Yourself A Salary
Paying yourself a salary is a crucial step in your business. This will help you maintain a steady income stream and separate your personal and business finances. It also helps to set aside taxes promptly, making it easier to meet your tax obligations. If you decide to take a salary, ensure it’s comparable to what other people in your industry would be paid. Additionally, be careful not to give yourself a raise too soon after a company profit increase because profits can fluctuate. So, how to pay yourself as a business owner? Alternatively, you could take an owner’s draw, allowing you to withdraw money from your business whenever needed. This is a popular option for small-business owners, and it can be a great way to keep your business afloat during slow times. However, it’s important to remember that this can create a lot of stress if you don’t manage your cash flow carefully.
It’s important to practice the principle of “paying yourself first,” which means dedicating a percentage of your income to savings and long-term goals before paying bills or other discretionary expenses. This can help you build a financial safety net and may encourage you to save more. This will also ensure that you only spend what your business makes, which can lead to problems.
Make Savings A Priority
While focusing on running your business, it’s easy to fall into the trap of neglecting your finances. If you are paying yourself a salary, your personal financial goals should become your priority, and if you’re using the owner’s draw, withholding taxes from your payments can help ensure you have enough money to meet your expenses. It’s also important to make savings a priority because it can be a motivating force when tackling difficult business challenges. Achieving your savings goals can show that you take your business’s health seriously and have the financial stamina to ride out a rough patch. According to Square, many business owners are starting to prioritize savings, particularly for vacations and recurring bills. Business owners who can build up their savings can take advantage of better financing opportunities for their businesses and better handle the stress of an irregular income.
However, if you have high-interest debt, it is suggested that you prioritize chipping away before increasing your saving rate. And, if you prefer spreadsheets and number-crunching, try a pay-yourself-first budget, which is a hands-off way to manage your cash flow while still setting long-term goals for yourself and your family. This method is perfect for those who prefer a more holistic approach to budgeting.
Create A Budget
One of the most important things business owners can do is create a budget. By comparing and matching business revenue to expenses, you can ensure enough money is available to pay your debts and continue growing your business. Start by determining your total income from all sources, such as sales, client payments, and bank transfers. Then, look at your fixed costs, which are the expenses that don’t change depending on how much you sell. These include rent, payroll, utilities, insurance, and bank fees. Next, subtract your fixed costs from your total revenue to determine your gross profit. Finally, review your variable expenses, which are the ones that fluctuate with your business’s performance. You can calculate these by looking at your history or using tools. Reviewing your expenses regularly will help you identify areas where you can cut back on costs, such as negotiating lower insurance rates or opting for a cheaper website hosting plan. One-time expenses are also important: costs that don’t recur and occur less often. Examples of one-time fees include purchasing new equipment, hiring a consultant, or dealing with a security breach. When you’ve completed your budget, update it regularly and use it to manage your business finances.
Set Goals
Paying yourself a salary is a great way to reward yourself for your hard work and dedication to your business. However, setting goals to keep you motivated and help you achieve your financial objectives is also important. Goals can be used to set priorities, measure progress and create a plan of action to guide you toward success. Business owners should pay more attention to their finances to grow the company. While this is a valid strategy, navigating unforeseen challenges can take time. To ensure your business thrives, you must be prepared for business ownership’s ups and downs. One way to do this is by setting SMART goals. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. You can set achievable and motivating goals for your business using these guidelines. For example, if you want to increase your sales by 10% this year, break that down into smaller goals, such as increasing your marketing budget by 5% or focusing on new customer acquisition strategies. By breaking down your goals, you can more easily track your progress and make necessary adjustments. As a result, you can feel confident that your business is heading in the right direction.
