Scaling shouldn’t come at the expense of paying yourself. And yet, that’s exactly what most business owners sacrifice in the name of growth.
In Episode 10, T2 and Tommy P lay down the foundation for a profit-first model that funds your life and your growth—without requiring you to hit $5M+ in revenue first.
Why Most Businesses Don’t Scale Profitably:
Because they build on a model that’s cash-poor, margin-thin, and owner-last. That’s not growth. That’s a ticking time bomb.
What Profit-First Really Means:
You set a target margin and reverse-engineer your pricing, ops, and forecasting around it.
You pay yourself regularly, not just if there’s something left over.
You track your performance metrics weekly, so you catch problems early.
You grow with intentional reinvestment, not reactionary decisions.
Key Elements of a Profit-First Model:
Set a Non-Negotiable Net Margin:
Decide what “profitable” means—10%, 20%, 30%. Don’t dip below it without a damn good reason.
Structure Your Offers Around Margin, Not Market Pressure:
Let the data tell you which services are profitable—and double down on those.
Build Dashboards:
You should know, at a glance, your current margins, cash flow, and sales pipeline. This isn’t optional.
Tie Team Incentives to Profitability:
If your team gets bonuses when profit targets are hit, they’ll think like owners too.
Action Step:
Set your desired net margin today. If it’s 15%, run the math backwards. Are you hitting that on every job? Every client? If not—adjust.
Final Word:
A profit-first business isn’t just smarter—it’s sustainable. You don’t need to wait until “someday” to start getting paid. Start now.