Salary or distributions: the founder pay decision that sets your tax bill
How you take money out of your own company depends on its tax classification, and getting the mechanics wrong costs more than the amount you pay yourself.
Founder pay
How founders pay themselves: salary, distributions and what the tax rules allow.
How bootstrapped founders pay themselves without starving the company
Owner draws, payroll salaries and the S corporation reasonable-compensation rule work very differently. How each works and how to avoid a surprise tax bill.
How big a founder's emergency fund should be when the salary is tiny
Standard emergency fund advice assumes a steady paycheck. Founders need a reserve sized for a company that might stop paying them on short notice.
Solo 401(k), SEP-IRA or company plan: retirement saving for founders
Founders often skip retirement saving because the company feels like the plan. Here is how the main account types work and what changes as you hire.
Estimated taxes for founders: how the quarterly payments actually work
No employer withholds for you once your income comes from distributions, draws or a sale. How quarterly estimates work and how to avoid the penalty.
Company car tax basics every founder should understand before buying
A car used for business brings real deductions and real record-keeping duties, so here is how the main rules work and what to ask your accountant.