Paying Yourself First is the Smartest Move You Can Make

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Picture this: You’re staring at your banking app, finger hovering over the transfer button. Your business account has money in it, actual money!, but that familiar knot tightens in your stomach. ‘Should I really be doing this?’ you wonder, even though you worked 60 hours last week and your jeans have a hole in them.

Have you ever felt a pang of guilt moving money from your business into your personal account, like you’ve swiped a cookie before dinner and someone’s about to call you out? You’re not alone. Many women entrepreneurs wrestle with the belief that paying themselves first is selfish, greedy, or not what a “real” business owner should do.

Here’s the truth: financial abundance starts with healthy habits. And one of the most transformative habits you can create is learning to pay yourself first, without guilt, without apology, and with the confidence that it’s the smartest business move you’ll ever make.

Why “Pay Yourself First” Isn’t Selfish

The phrase sounds indulgent, but in reality, it’s about honoring your value and sustaining your business. Paying yourself first means setting aside a portion of business profit for personal savings or salary before you spend on anything else.

Here’s why it matters:

• It acknowledges your worth. Your business wouldn’t exist without your creativity, skills, and late-night bursts of inspiration. You deserve to be compensated.
• It builds resilience. When your personal needs are met, you lead from a place of security instead of scarcity.
• It’s sustainable. Regular pay prevents burnout and resentment, while also protecting you from financial emergencies.

Think of it like securing your oxygen mask before helping others. It’s not selfish, it’s smart. And it’s essential for the long-term health of both your company and your sanity.

Shifting the Money Mindset: Guilt-Free Abundance

Many women hesitate to take regular pay because “the business needs the money more than I do.” That pattern might feel noble, but it actually rewires your brain to put your abundance last. Over time, it reinforces unhealthy beliefs like, “I’ll thrive only after everyone else is taken care of.”

It’s time to reframe:

• Instead of: “I can’t afford to pay myself right now.”
  Try: “Paying myself helps me grow into the leader my business needs.”
• Instead of: “The business needs the money more than I do.”
  Try: “When I’m financially secure, I make better decisions for my business.”
• Instead of: “It feels greedy to take money out.”
  Try: “It’s not greed, it’s gratitude for the work I’ve already done.”

Pro tip: Treat your pay as a non-negotiable expense, just like rent or software subscriptions. Think of it as rent for your brilliance.

Before we move on, let me assure you, I know this isn’t easy.  I remember the first time I paid myself ‘on purpose’, not just grabbing whatever crumbs were left at the end of the month. My hand literally shook as I transferred $100. One hundred dollars! From the money I had earned! The guilt was real.  But I was starting to resent my business, and that wasn’t healthy for me or my clients.  

Practical Tips for Paying Yourself First

1. Automate Your Habit
   Set up auto-transfers from your business account to your personal account, just like any other bill. When it’s automatic, it becomes routine instead of negotiable.
2. Start Small, Then Grow
   Even if it’s just 5% of revenue or $50 a week, consistency matters more than the amount. As your business grows, increase your pay.
3. Create a Payday Ritual
   Make it fun! Mark “Owner Payday” on your calendar. Play your favorite song, light a candle, toast your reflection, or buy yourself a single flower. Rituals anchor the habit and remind you that your success is worth celebrating.
4. Track and Celebrate Progress
   Review your “owner pay” once a month. No matter how small, celebrate the fact that you’re building abundance on purpose.

When Paying Yourself Feels Impossible

Let’s be real: lean months happen. Sometimes reinvestment feels like the only option. If paying yourself a full salary isn’t possible yet, start with a baseline, even $10. Yes, ten dollars. I know it feels almost silly to transfer $10, but here’s what happens: that transaction shows up in your bank notifications. You see it. You feel it. And something inside you whispers, ‘I matter, my work has value.’ That, along with the consistency of the transfer, matters more than the number. Over time, it rewires your financial habits and sets the stage for bigger payouts.

Yes, critics of the “pay yourself first” method say it might leave less capital for growth. But balance is the key. Pay yourself enough to honor your role, then reinvest strategically. It’s not either/or, it’s both/and.

And don’t forget: real wealth-building includes planning for feast and famine. An emergency fund cushions those dry spells, keeping your business and household steady when revenue dips.

You Deserve to Thrive

Paying yourself first isn’t selfish. It’s a radical act of self-honoring. It ensures your business remains a tool for prosperity, not burnout.

When you prioritize your abundance, you lead with clarity, confidence, and generosity. Your creativity, wisdom, and effort are worth far more than “whatever’s left over.” They deserve a headline spot in your budget, and in your story.

So, let’s make it official: paying yourself first is one of the most fabulous, revolutionary, and sustainable practices you can adopt as a woman entrepreneur. Raise a glass (or your favorite mug) to your financial abundance.

Now I’m curious, and I really want to know: Do you have a payday ritual? Maybe you play a specific song, or text your best friend, or do a little dance in your kitchen? Or maybe you’re still working up the courage to make that first transfer. Wherever you are, I see you. Drop a comment and let’s cheer each other on.

Want more support in growing your business with clarity and purpose? [Connect with me here] to explore how we can work together.

You are not an expense to your business.
You are it’s greatest asset: start treating yourself that way.

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