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How Profit First Saved My Business—and It Can Save Yours Too

January 16, 20252 min read

"How Profit First Saved My Business—and It Can Save Yours Too"

When I first heard about Profit First, I thought it sounded too simple to work: take profit first, pay yourself first, and let the rest handle itself. But then I tried it—and it completely transformed how I viewed and managed money in my business.

Let me tell you a quick story about one of my clients (we’ll call him Mike). Mike owns a small construction company. Like many business owners, Mike was working hard, bringing in plenty of revenue, but at the end of the month, he was barely breaking even. Sound familiar?

He came to me frustrated and exhausted. His books looked fine on paper, but he had no idea where all the money was going. He was stuck in the "bank balance accounting" cycle—check the account, pay bills, hope there’s enough left over for himself. There never was.

That’s when I introduced Mike to Profit First.


What We Did

  1. Opened Multiple Bank Accounts
    I had Mike set up separate accounts for profit, taxes, owner’s pay, and operating expenses. It may sound tedious, but it’s a game-changer. Every dollar Mike earned was allocated to these accounts based on percentages we determined.

  2. Paid Profit First
    This was a big mental shift for Mike. Instead of paying everyone else first, we set aside profit at the very start. Even if it was a small percentage at first, it created momentum.

  3. Cut Unnecessary Expenses
    With the operating expenses account limited to a set percentage of revenue, Mike was forced to trim unnecessary costs. This wasn’t about making his business smaller—it was about making it more efficient.

  4. Treated Taxes Like They’re Not His
    We allocated a percentage of revenue to the tax account every month, so when tax season rolled around, Mike wasn’t scrambling to find the money.


The Results?

Fast forward six months, and Mike had his first-ever quarterly profit distribution—a check just for him. He finally felt like the business was working for him, not the other way around.

More importantly, Mike no longer dreaded looking at his bank account. He had clarity, confidence, and a system that put him in control. Today, he’s growing his company and taking home more money than ever before.


What About You?

If you’ve ever felt like Mike—working hard but barely getting by—it’s time for a change. Profit First isn’t just a money system; it’s a mindset shift that ensures your business serves you, not the other way around.

And you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I’m here to help.

Let’s set up a free consultation to see how Profit First could work for your business. Imagine looking at your bank account and seeing profit waiting for you every month. It’s possible—and I’d love to help you get there.


Comment below or send me a message to get started!

Your business deserves to thrive—and so do you.

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Steven Young

Our Chief Savvy Officer, Steven has been published in numerous newspapers and magazines over the years for his insights into business and increasing the bottom line while saving money on taxes.

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