How Much Can I Pay Myself? | Smallbiz Controller

Your business

This tells the calculator which cash risks to look for and how owner pay is taxed.

Business name

What kind of business is it?

Trades, building services, or constructionPlumbing, electrical, HVAC, specialty contractors, janitorial, landscaping, security, maintenance

E-commerce, DTC, or importOnline brands, marketplace sellers, importers and wholesale distributors

How is the business taxed? Not sure? Check the tax return you file: Schedule C is a sole proprietor, Form 1065 is a partnership, 1120-S is an S corp, 1120 is a C corp.

How many owners?

Last 12 months

Pull these from your profit and loss for the most recent 12 months. Rounded numbers are fine.

Revenue

Total sales, net of refunds and discounts.

Direct job costs

Operating expenses

Everything else on your P&L: rent, office staff, software, insurance, marketing, interest, depreciation.

Owner pay already inside those expenses

Owner W-2 salary and its payroll taxes, guaranteed payments, owner health insurance. Draws and distributions don't count here; enter 0 if you only take draws.

Depreciation and amortization in expenses

A non-cash expense. Your tax return or accountant has this; 0 if you don't know.

What all owners are paid in total today, per year

Salary, draws, and distributions combined. Used only to compare against your results.

Cash and commitments

Profit isn't cash. These answers show how much of your profit is actually free to leave the business.

Cash in business bank accounts today

Cash that isn't really yours yet

Customer deposits for work or orders not yet delivered, sales tax collected, past-due bills or taxes.

Monthly loan principal payments

Principal only, for loans, vehicle and equipment notes, and scheduled credit-line paydowns. Interest is already in your expenses.

Planned equipment and investments, next 12 months

Accounts receivable today

What customers owe you.

Accounts payable today

What you owe vendors and suppliers.

Retainage receivable

Amounts held back by GCs or owners until project closeout. 0 if none.

Share of revenue from your largest customer or source of work

For example one general contractor, a property management or facilities firm, a home warranty company, a big-box installer program, a lead platform like Angi or Thumbtack, or a single municipal or school district contract.

Do you know which jobs, crews, or service lines actually make money?

Inventory on hand, at cost

Including stock at 3PLs and marketplace warehouses.

Inventory orders due in the next 90 days

Purchase orders and deposits you've committed to but haven't paid yet.

Share of revenue from your largest sales channel

For example Amazon, your own site, or one wholesale account.

Do you know your margin by product and channel after fees, ads, and fulfillment?

Expected revenue change, next 12 months

Use a negative number for a decline, like -10. Leave 0 if you expect it to stay flat.

Cash reserve target, in months of overhead

Owners and taxes

Improve accuracy (optional)

W-2 wages paid to employees last year, excluding owners

Only matters for higher-income owners, where the qualified business income deduction depends on wages the business pays.

Your numbers are ready

Tell us where to send a copy. You'll see your full results on the next screen, including the math behind every figure.

First name

Work email

Phone (optional)