If your business makes good money but your bank account still feels empty, this is for you.
Because somewhere between the invoices, the expenses, and the “I’ll pay myself next month,” your paycheck disappeared.
And it’s not your fault.
Most business owners were never taught how to pay themselves.
That changes today.
You’re not alone.
I’ve been in hundreds of business owners’ QuickBooks files (agencies, coaches, service pros) and I see the same thing over and over again.
They’re making money. But they’re not paying themselves.
And when they do, it’s random. Maybe a panic withdrawal here, a “hope there’s enough left” transfer there.
This is a data problem my friends. A data problem that causes fear and uncertainty.
The Moment It Clicked for Me
When I first started out, I knew I needed to pay myself from my business. But when it came to paying myself consistently or paying myself more, I thought the answer was just making more money.
It wasn’t.
Because when your numbers are messy, more money just makes the mess bigger.
You start chasing growth but you’re running on blurry data.
That’s when I created what I now call The Owner Pay Formula™, a simple three-step system that helps you pay yourself safely, consistently, and without guilt.
So what does this look like, well first, we flip the formula (backwards… more on that later).
Step 1: Flip the Formula
Here’s what most business owners do:
Sales – Expenses = Whatever’s Left (Maybe I Get Paid)
Here’s what we do instead, what I call the Backwards Thinking™ approach:
Sales – Owner Pay = Expenses → Profit
You pay yourself first. Then you make your business live within what’s left.
Because your work should pay you, not just fund everyone else’s paycheck.
FYI – this all starts with knowing your personal pay number. You need to know what you need to live your life (mortgage, car payments, bills, etc) before you can even begin to work through this formula successfully.
Want help here? Join me for our FREE monthly coaching call where I will be walking through this formula and how to get to your personal pay number.
Step 2: Trust Your Numbers
Now… this part matters.
The Owner Pay Formula only works if your data tells the truth.
If your QuickBooks file is full of duplicates, missing reconciliations, or ad spend chaos, your reports are lying to you.
That’s why your paychecks feel like guesswork.
Clean books = confident decisions.
That’s why we created our QuickBooks Health Check.
We go line by line, fix what’s broken, and give you a clear, personalized action plan to move forward.
You need to trust your numbers to be able to make confident business decisions. Plus, you can’t lead from chaos, my friend.
Step 3: Protect It Like Payroll
Once your data is clean and your percentage is set, the last step is consistency.
Automate it. Set a recurring calendar event. Hello “Owner Pay Friday.”
Transfer a set amount into your personal account each month. (Now, if you are an S-Corp, you should be on payroll – IRS rule – and you should be paying yourself consistently that way).
No exceptions. No guilt.
Your paycheck isn’t optional. It’s a business expense. Shifting your mindset and treating your paycheck as a non-negotiable will change everything.
It’s the moment you go from reactive business owner to cash-confident CEO.
A Quick Story
One of my clients hadn’t paid herself in three months. She was exhausted. Constantly worrying about money, even though her business looked successful from the outside.
Her QuickBooks file? Total chaos.
We ran a Health Check, cleaned it up, set her Owner Pay Formula, and 30 days later she paid herself for the first time all year.
She said, “It feels like I can finally breathe.”
Financial clarity is not about spreadsheets, but clean numbers do allow you the freedom you are looking for.
Let’s chat about this Backwards Thinking….
The Backwards Thinking™ Advantage
Here’s what makes our approach different.
Most accountants look at what’s left over. We start with what actually matters.
1) Your goals.
2) Your pay.
3) Your peace of mind.
Then we build the business backwards from there.
That’s Backwards Thinking™ — and it’s how you move from surviving to scaling.
Clean Books → Cash Clarity → Confident Decisions → Clarity for the Future.
That’s our 4C Framework, and it always starts with one simple step: clean, decision-ready data.
Your Quick Action Steps
If you’ve been running your business from your bank balance, it’s time for clarity.
Here’s what to do next:
- Grab my free guide “9 Costly QuickBooks Mistakes Your CPA Isn’t Catching.”
It’s a 15-minute self-audit to spot your biggest money leaks. - Book your QuickBooks Health Check.
We’ll review your file, record a Loom video walkthrough, and give you a 90-day fix-it plan so you can finally pay yourself with confidence. - Join Our FREE Monthly Ask Us Anything Call.
It’s a zero-pressure, come-as-you-are space where small business owners like you get clarity on cash flow, QuickBooks, and all the behind-the-scenes questions you wish your accountant would actually answer.
Because you didn’t start your business to feel broke. You started it to build a life.
Let’s make sure your numbers support that.
