Learn How Money Moves
Guides, strategies, and studies on how to move money with intention.
Trikled Guides
The S-Corp Owner Pay Strategy
How to split revenue between a W-2 salary and shareholder distributions to minimize self-employment tax while staying IRS-compliant. Covers reasonable compensation, FICA savings, and the distribution tax reserve.
Revenue Buckets: Where Every Dollar Should Go
A framework for dividing gross revenue into operating costs, overhead, insurance, warranty reserves, growth funds, and net profit. Why top GCs never leave allocation to chance.
Personal Allocation After the Business Check Clears
Once money hits your personal account, what happens next? Tithing, emergency fund, investment accounts, and living expenses — structured so you never wonder where it went.
The 50/50 Rule for Personal Operating
Keep 50% of your personal operating account for bills and living expenses. Route the other 50% into reserves and investments. Simple, repeatable, and it compounds.
Tax Reserves: Stop Getting Surprised in April
How to calculate and set aside the right amount for federal income tax, state tax, and estimated quarterly payments — so tax season is just a paperwork exercise, not a cash crisis.
The Multi-Account Method: Why One Bank Account Isn't Enough
How opening multiple checking accounts — each with a single purpose — transforms chaotic cash flow into a disciplined system. The practical setup, which banks support it for free, and the data behind why it works.
Curated Content
Profit First for Contractors: How to Stop Losing Money
Wade Carpenter & Stephen Brown · Contractor Success Forum
CPA Wade Carpenter and bond agent Stephen Brown break down how Profit First works specifically for contractors — separate bank accounts, allocation percentages,...
Aug 15, 2024
How to Set Your Profit First Allocation Percentages
Mike Michalowicz & Danielle Mulvey · Profit First Nation
Mike Michalowicz (author of Profit First) and Danielle Mulvey walk through how to determine your starting percentages for Profit, Tax, Owner Pay, and Operating ...
Jun 10, 2024
How Contractors Can Market, Sell, Deliver, and Get Paid On Time
Dominic Rubino · Profit Tool Belt
Dominic Rubino shares the full cycle of contractor profitability — from landing the job to collecting the check. Covers estimating, change orders, payment sched...
Nov 20, 2024
Profit First with Mike Michalowicz — Embrace Profit to Grow
Mike Michalowicz · Being Boss Podcast
Mike Michalowicz explains why most businesses operate on the "sell, pay expenses, hope there's profit left" model — and how flipping the formula to "sell, take ...
May 15, 2023
How to Scale Your Construction Company Without More Work
Wade Carpenter & Stephen Brown · Contractor Success Forum
Scaling doesn't mean doing more jobs — it means building systems. Wade and Stephen discuss how proper financial allocation, delegation, and margin discipline le...
Oct 1, 2024
Profit Before Anything Else with Mike Michalowicz
Mike Michalowicz · In The Trenches
A deep conversation on the psychology of money in business. Why we feel guilty taking profit, how "pay yourself first" actually works in practice, and the bank ...
Mar 12, 2024
Profit First for Contractors: Shawn Van Dyke on Construction Finances
Shawn Van Dyke · Profit First Professionals
Shawn Van Dyke, author of "Profit First for Contractors," explains how the allocation system works for GCs and trades — including the sixth account for COGS tha...
Jan 22, 2024
Transform Your Construction Business from Cash-Eating Monster to Money-Making Machine
Shawn Van Dyke · Time Hacker Podcast
Shawn Van Dyke shares the story behind his book and the specific percentages he recommends for construction companies — operating at 65-70% COGS, and how to use...
Apr 8, 2024
From Margins to Mastery: Construction Business Financial Insights
Shawn Van Dyke · YouTube
Shawn Van Dyke walks through how to read your financial statements as a contractor, determine your true markup and margin, and use those numbers to price jobs p...
Feb 10, 2025
S Corp Salary vs Distributions Explained: How to Pay Yourself
FreedomTax Accounting · YouTube / FreedomTax
Clear walkthrough of the S-Corp salary vs distribution split — what the IRS considers "reasonable compensation," how to calculate your FICA savings, and the mos...
Sep 20, 2024
Simplified Profit First for Small Business: The Complete Breakdown
The Collaborative · YouTube / The Collaborative
A step-by-step visual breakdown of how to implement Profit First even if you're just starting out. Covers the 5 bank accounts, starting percentages, and the "en...
Jul 15, 2024
Construction Finance & Pricing: How to Stop Leaving Money Behind
Construction Champions · YouTube / Construction Champions
Actionable advice from real industry experts on job costing, change order management, and why most contractors underprice by 15-20%. Covers how to build profit ...
Jan 8, 2025
S-Corp Tax Savings Calculator: How Much Could Your Business Save?
Gusto · YouTube / Gusto
Interactive walkthrough showing exactly how much you save in FICA taxes by structuring as an S-Corp vs sole prop. Includes the calculator and real examples at $...
Dec 5, 2024
Profit First Percentages for Different Types of Small Businesses
Relay Financial · Relay Blog
Detailed breakdown of recommended Profit First allocation percentages by business type and revenue level. Includes tables for service businesses, construction, ...
Aug 22, 2024
A Modified Profit First Framework for Construction Companies
Shena White · CEOWORLD Magazine
Shena White adapts the Profit First model specifically for construction, addressing the unique challenges of long project timelines, retention, progress billing...
Mar 18, 2026
S-Corp Reasonable Salary: A Complete Guide to Paying Yourself
Collective · Collective Blog
Everything you need to know about S-Corp reasonable compensation — how the IRS defines it, the factors they consider, common salary ranges by industry, and how ...
Nov 12, 2024
S Corporation Salary vs Distribution: How To Pay Yourself
Jamie Trull · Jamie Trull Blog
CPA Jamie Trull walks through the exact math of salary vs distributions at different income levels, showing how much you actually save and the diminishing retur...
Dec 8, 2025
What Is The Profit First Method and How Does It Work?
Brex · Brex Blog
A clear explainer of the Profit First system — the behavioral psychology behind why it works, the 5 bank accounts, how to calculate your Current Allocation Perc...
Jun 30, 2024
Strategies for Boosting Profit Margins Through Effective Financial Management
LumberFi · LumberFi Blog
Financial strategies specific to construction companies — improving bid accuracy, managing subcontractor costs, leveraging technology for real-time job costing,...
Mar 15, 2025
Profit First: Make a Profit Every Year With This Formula
Wave · Wave Blog
Step-by-step guide to implementing Profit First from scratch — open the accounts, calculate your starting percentages, set up the 10th and 25th transfer schedul...
May 20, 2024
How to Pay Yourself Smarter as an S-Corp Owner: Wages vs. Distributions
Cadence Wealth Partners · Cadence Wealth Blog
A wealth advisor's perspective on S-Corp pay strategy — goes beyond tax savings to cover retirement account contributions, wealth building, and how your salary ...
Jan 28, 2025
How to Implement Profit First in Your Business: Step-by-Step Guide
Expense Monkey · Expense Monkey Blog
The most practical implementation guide — covers opening bank accounts, calculating your real numbers, making your first allocation, and the common mistakes tha...
Sep 10, 2024
More guides on personal budgeting, 1099 contractor management, multi-entity flows, and industry-specific strategies are on the way.