Unpopular opinion, shared with love. Not paying yourself is not an act of selflessness. It is something so many business owners do because they care deeply, want to be responsible, and are trying to protect their team and their clients. I see that. I honor that.

But I also need you to hear this gently. When you do not pay yourself, you unintentionally limit your business’s ability to grow. You make it harder to hire the support you genuinely need. You shrink the opportunities available to you because every decision is made from scarcity instead of strength.

There is also a reality most entrepreneurs never learn. If your business is structured a certain way and you get audited, the IRS will examine whether you are paying yourself appropriately. If you have not been running payroll when required, they can reclassify your owner draws as wages. That means back taxes, fines, and interest. Avoiding payroll does not protect you. It increases your risk.

You cannot lead with confidence when you are personally running on empty. You deserve stability. You deserve support. And your business becomes healthier when the human at the center is financially taken care of too.

Why Paying Yourself Feels Wrong Even When You Need It

So many entrepreneurs work harder than ever, carry the emotional load of the entire company, and still feel guilty when it is time to pay themselves. It is lonely to give so much and receive so little back. It is draining to support everyone else while your own financial needs sit at the bottom of the list.

Here is the truth. Real businesses pay their owners. Healthy companies create systems that support the leader at the center. Paying yourself is not taking from your business. It is honoring the role that holds the vision, solves the problems, and keeps everything moving.

If paying yourself triggers guilt, it is because you were conditioned to believe your needs come last. You were taught to treat your paycheck like a personal indulgence instead of an operational necessity. Your brain labels it selfish. Meanwhile, paying everyone else is labeled responsible and noble.

But here is what that story ignores. You are the strategist. You are the decision maker. You are the visionary. You are the person holding everything together even when things get complicated. You are not optional. Your paycheck cannot be optional either.

Paying Yourself Creates Emotional Stability And Better Decisions

When your personal finances are unstable, your nervous system goes straight into survival mode. You say yes to clients you would normally decline. You discount your services because you are afraid of losing a sale. You take on draining projects because you feel backed into a financial corner.

When you pay yourself consistently, everything inside of you settles. Your decision making becomes clearer. You stop operating from fear. You choose clients, boundaries, and opportunities that align with your capacity and values. A stable CEO leads a stable company. Paying yourself is not just a financial act. It is emotional regulation for your business.

Pick A Number That Covers Your Needs

Start with a number that honors your current reality. If your company cannot fully pay you that amount yet, that is okay. Now you have a target to reach for. You have clarity around what sustainability looks like, and you will naturally begin holding your pricing and boundaries differently.

Choose an amount that is consistent. As revenue grows, you can move to a higher base salary plus a percentage of profit. The goal is not to drain your company resources. The goal is  to create stability for both you and your business. Start small, be consistent, and grow your salary as you raise your prices.

Final Thoughts from Your Favorite Accountant 🧡

From this point forward, paying yourself is not a reward. It is a requirement. You are the visionary, the closer, the strategist, and the person carrying the weight of every hard decision. That role deserves reliable income. When you decide your pay is non-negotiable and build your numbers around it, the guilt fades and your confidence rises. You stop apologizing for needing stability and start leading with strength.

If you are ready to finally pay yourself with clarity, consistency, and peace, I am here to help you build the structure that supports you.

✅ Hire My CFO for done for you bookkeeping
👩‍💻 Join my Financial Leadership Events for budgeting, forecasting, and confident CEO decision making
📚 Use my STOP Method book and workbook to create a financial system that finally supports you

👉 Because at the end of the day, cash flow isn’t luck, it’s strategy.