The Hoodie Hustle That Nearly Broke Him - A Bookkeeper's Tale

Ralph had been running his hoodie business for seven years. $425,000 in annual revenue. A solid brand. Loyal customers. And yet, his bank account never reflected how awesome his sales were.

Even after 7 years, he only paid himself in random owner draws. $500 here, maybe $1,200 next month. It depended on what was available after expenses and employee payroll. He always made sure his team got paid. Always covered inventory and marketing. But himself? He was the last priority, every time.

At home, it showed. His partner was patient, but stressed. His car was overdue for repairs. The weight of being “the provider” was starting to turn into quiet resentment. And deep down, Ralph began to question whether he was even good at being a business owner. He thought about getting a part time J.O.B.

When we sat down and looked at his numbers, he didn’t have a revenue problem. He had a mindset problem. He’d normalized not paying himself. And it was costing him more than money, it was costing him confidence.

Skipping your own paycheck devalues your role and eventually destabilizes both your business and your personal life.

We didn't start Ralph off with a full salary. He started with $250 a week, something small and consistent. We built it into his budget so that it was a requirement to pay himself. We used that mindset shift to adjust his pricing. Over six months, his wages became predictable. His home life felt less chaotic. And his belief in himself started to rebuild. In two years time, Ralph was making 125,000 a year as his salary. No more random owner draws and he was happier, confident, and started focusing on empowering others to run his shop without him around.

Paying yourself consistently isn’t selfish, it’s foundational.
It creates structure, protects your energy, and forces your pricing to match the real costs of running your business.

If you’re tired of feeling like the lowest-paid employee in your company, it’s time for a mindset shift. Start small. Stay consistent. And treat your owner pay like the essential business expense it is.
Need help making it work in your mind and in your budget? That’s what I do. Let’s map it out together.

Lub you,
Crystal 🦄