Dear Dave,
I’ve just started my own small business. As the owner and only employee, how do I determine my profits?
Brittany
Dear Brittany,
Here’s a basic Accounting 101 definition for you, regardless of how many employees you have or how big your business may be. What you take in, minus expenses — in other words, your revenues minus your expenses — equal profit. Believe it or not, it really is that simple.
Since you’re just starting out, I’d strongly advise you to set up a separate checking account for your business. That’s the only way to accurately tell exactly what’s going on within the business. When you co-mingle business money with grocery money and things like that in your personal account, you’ll never have an accurate picture of what’s really happening with your business.
Good luck, Brittany!
— Dave
* Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business, and CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 12 million listeners each week on 575 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at daveramsey.com and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.
