You’re the owner. The risk-taker. The rainmaker. Without you, the business doesn’t run. So why is your paycheck the smallest — or the most inconsistent?

Too many contractors treat their personal income like an afterthought. They wait to “see what’s left” after paying everyone else. But here’s the problem: there’s rarely anything left. And that creates resentment, stress, and burnout.

You deserve better. And the solution is simple: pay yourself first.

That doesn’t mean ignoring bills or being irresponsible with business cash. It means building your draw into the budget just like any other fixed cost. When you do that, you’re treating your role as an owner with the seriousness it deserves.

I worked with a contractor making $1.5M/year — and paying himself $42K. He was barely scraping by while his crews, vendors, and office manager got paid consistently. His excuse? “I’ll take more when we have a good year.” But the good year never came. We shifted to a Pay Yourself First model. We calculated a base draw that supported his lifestyle, and reverse-engineered overhead and pricing to support it. Within 60 days, he was taking home $6K/month — without breaking the bank.

Profit isn’t an accident — it’s a decision. And owner pay is part of that equation.

Want to make yourself a financial priority again?

Pick up your free copy of my new book, “The 7 Minute Conversation-How to Hear the Story Your Small Business Financial Statements Are Telling You-CONTRACTOR EDITION”.  Go to www.7MinuteConversationBook.com

Ready to find out where your cash and profits are really going? Book your free 15-minute Profit and Cash Flow Call with me. No pressure. Just real clarity. I’ll help you see where your money’s hiding — and what to do about it. Schedule at www.CashFlowCallWithLarry.com