The Right Way to Boost Profit

If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you’ve been fed the same lie over and over again: “One day, your business will make enough money to finally be profitable.”

That’s garbage.

Profit doesn’t magically show up when your revenue gets big enough. Profit doesn’t wait patiently at the end of a rainbow, ready to reward you for years of sacrifice. Profit must be prioritized, not hoped for. And most importantly, profit must be systematized through small, consistent action.

So let’s get into the real deal—because your business deserves to be profitable now, not someday.

The Problem: You’re waiting to “be ready” for profit

Here’s the trap: Most business owners think profit is what comes after everything else is paid. After payroll. After overhead. After a new hire, after the software upgrade, after you’ve reinvested in that new marketing push. Only then will you take some for yourself, if there’s anything left.

But there’s never anything left.
Because profit doesn’t happen by accident. It only happens when you design for it.

Even worse, most owners tell themselves they’ll start being profitable when they’re “ready.” When the economy stabilizes. When sales pick up. When the next launch hits. That day never comes. There will always be a reason to delay profit—unless you decide otherwise.

Waiting for the right time to take profit is like waiting until you’re fit to start going to the gym.

Backwards logic. It doesn’t work.

The Result: You build a business that burns you out

Here’s what happens when you delay prioritizing profit:

• You hustle harder and earn less. Revenue may increase, but if profit isn’t prioritized, your expenses will always expand to match.
  

• You operate in scarcity mode. When you don’t take your profit first, you always feel like there’s not enough, and you make decisions from fear instead of strategy.
  

• You treat your business like a job. A low-paying, high-stress job. You’re the last to get paid, the first to feel pressure, and the one shouldering the risk with none of the reward.
  

Even if your business appears successful on paper, you’re not experiencing the peace, freedom, or financial security that should come with it.

It’s not sustainable. And you know it.

The Solution: Increase your profit by just 1%, Quarter by quarter

Here’s the good news: You don’t need to overhaul your entire business to become profitable. You don’t need to double your client list, invent a new product, or hire a CFO.

You just need to increase your profit allocation by 1%.

Seriously. That’s it. This tiny, incremental shift is the key to permanent, sustainable profitability.

Let me walk you through how it works:

Step 1: Start with what you have

First things first: If you don’t already have a Profit account, create one now. This is a separate bank account where you transfer profit before paying any expenses. This is the core principle of Profit First: take your profit off the top, not what’s left over.

Step 2: Increase your profit allocation by 1%

Whatever percentage of revenue you currently allocate to profit (let’s say it’s 3%), increase it by 1% this quarter. So now it’s 4%.

This might sound insignificant, but that’s exactly the point. A 1% change doesn’t disrupt your cash flow. You won’t panic about making payroll. You won’t need to rework your pricing. It’s manageable.

But psychologically, it’s massive. You’re signaling to yourself—and your business—that profit comes first. Every single quarter, you’ll grow that muscle.

Step 3: Repeat every quarter

Every 90 days, increase your profit allocation by another 1%. That’s it. Over the course of three years, you’ll be allocating 12% more toward profit than you are today. And you’ll do it in a way that doesn’t break your business.

In fact, your business will start to reshape itself around the profit you’ve carved out.

When you limit what’s available for expenses, something incredible happens: your business gets smarter.

You cut what’s not working. You optimize your offers. You make better decisions, faster. And most importantly, you start to pay yourself what you’re worth.

Why small steps work (and big leaps don’t)

We’ve all had moments of extreme motivation. Those “everything changes starting now” declarations. And while they feel good in the moment, they rarely last. Big changes require big energy. And that’s not always sustainable in the long haul of running a business.

Small steps, though? They work. They stick. They compound.

Increasing profit by 1% each quarter works because:

• It allows time for your business to adapt.
  

• It removes the fear of scarcity or failure.
  

• It builds a habit of prioritizing profit, not just chasing revenue.

You don’t need to flip a switch. You just need to take the next step. And then the next.

Need reinforcement? Dive into these resources

If you want to dig deeper into this strategy and build a business that’s not just sustainable, but joyful and rewarding, here are a few spots to start:

• Profit First – Chapter 2, pages 41–48
  Learn how a tiny shift in where your money goes first can create massive behavior change that lasts.
  

• Fix This Next – Chapter 4, pages 90–119
  Understand how putting profit first supports your business’s hierarchy of needs—and sets the stage for scalable, lasting growth.
  

• The Pumpkin Plan – Chapter 6, pages 95–110
  Cut the clutter. Focus on what’s working. Stop feeding the parts of your business that don’t deserve your time or resources.

Final thought

Profit First doesn’t fix your business. It shows you what needs to be fixed in your business.

When you take your profit first, you create constraints that expose waste, inefficiency, and poor pricing. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s also empowering. Because now you know exactly what to work on.

The path to profitability isn’t paved in spreadsheets and forecasts. It’s built through consistent, incremental action. So take that 1% step today.

Don’t wait until you’re “ready.” You’re ready now.

Let’s grow your profit, one quarter at a time.