How much can you take home from your business?
Startup Costs | Blank working worksheet | September 6, 2026
https://startup-costs.com/guides/owner-income/

Result to produce: A cash ceiling for a proposed additional withdrawal and a separate record of compensation for your operating work.

Business and format:
Address or service area:
Prepared by:
Date:

BEFORE YOU START
Use unrestricted cash, expected collections, dated payments, tax provisions and your chosen reserve. Identify whether any owner salary or other compensation is already included in operating payments.

CALCULATION INPUTS
Opening unrestricted business cash (USD):
Cash collected this month (USD):
Operating cash paid, including any owner salary (USD):
Total debt payments (USD):
Cash set aside for taxes and other restricted amounts (USD):
Planned equipment and other commitments (USD):
Minimum unrestricted cash to retain (USD):

Use the guide calculator for formulas and results. Enter your own values and retain the evidence for each assumption.

DECISION RECORD
1. Owner work
Tasks, hours and economic compensation assumed
Finding or value:
Evidence, scope and date:
Status (Unverified / Assumed / Supported / Needs review):
Next action, person and date:

2. Compensation already paid
Cash amount included in operating payments
Finding or value:
Evidence, scope and date:
Status (Unverified / Assumed / Supported / Needs review):
Next action, person and date:

3. Unrestricted cash
Balance and excluded restricted amounts
Finding or value:
Evidence, scope and date:
Status (Unverified / Assumed / Supported / Needs review):
Next action, person and date:

4. Next commitments
Amount and payment date, including debt and tax provisions
Finding or value:
Evidence, scope and date:
Status (Unverified / Assumed / Supported / Needs review):
Next action, person and date:

5. Reserve
Minimum balance and the stress it covers
Finding or value:
Evidence, scope and date:
Status (Unverified / Assumed / Supported / Needs review):
Next action, person and date:

6. Proposed withdrawal
Amount, date, remaining cash and applicable restrictions
Finding or value:
Evidence, scope and date:
Status (Unverified / Assumed / Supported / Needs review):
Next action, person and date:

DECISION RULES
If: Cash is below the retained minimum
Action: Resolve the shortfall before making an additional withdrawal.

If: The plan depends on one pending collection
Action: Wait for the receipt or retest the dated cash schedule.

If: Owner work has no economic cost in the plan
Action: Add it before comparing the return with another business or job.

YOUR DECISION
Next commitment:
Conditions still to resolve:
Decision and reason:
Next review date:

Sources and background:
SBA: managing a business: https://www.sba.gov/counseling/manage-your-business/
IRS: business recordkeeping: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/recordkeeping

This is a blank personal planning worksheet. Its completion is not an approval, a market estimate or a completed state research record.
The examples and calculator defaults on the guide are authored illustrations. Keep your own evidence and limitations with any result.
Financial information supports planning and education and is not personalized financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Results do not guarantee costs, revenue, profit or financing.