Are you paying yourself what you’re worth?

You’re working 10-hour days, juggling clients, invoices, marketing, and team needs… but your bank account isn’t reflecting any of it.

If you haven’t paid yourself in a while (or ever), you’re not alone. But that doesn’t make it okay.
We’ve talked to founders who haven’t cut themselves a real paycheck in years. Everything possible goes back into the business, and eventually, that takes a toll.

Owners’ pay is not a luxury. It’s a requirement.
Profit First puts your pay first.
Literally.

Instead of treating your income as whatever’s “left over,” you allocate for it from the start.
It’s a small shift on paper.
But in real life? It changes everything.

We worked with a floral design founder who hadn’t paid herself for three straight years. She felt stuck, frustrated, and honestly… a little resentful.

Once she worked with us to calculate exactly what she needed to pay herself to lead the life she knew was important to her, and she started setting aside even just 5% for Owner’s Pay toward that goal, things shifted.
Suddenly, she could cover the occasional coffee date with a friend without worrying and plan a long weekend with her family—a chance to finally step away and reconnect.
She finally had a system that honored her time, not just her team’s.

And with that consistency came motivation. Momentum followed.

You are not the last in line

If your business can’t afford to pay you, something needs to change.
Not because you’re being selfish, but because your business doesn’t run without you.

You might be afraid to take money out.
Or unsure what “reasonable” even looks like.

That’s where a real cash strategy, like Profit First, comes in.
And when the numbers are more complex?
That’s where a Fractional CFO can step in to help you see the full picture.

We help business owners make decisions that support both the business and the person running it.

It’s time to put you back on payroll

 If your pay has been an afterthought, let’s change that.
Start with our free guide:  Is a Fractional CFO right for you?
Because your business should take care of you, too.