When to raise — or cut — your drawings

Raise base pay only after several consecutive months where tax reserves are full, operating cash is stable, and the current wage felt comfortable.

Cut base pay when the tax pot is being skipped, suppliers are stretching, or you are floating the business on a personal card.

Make changes on a schedule — monthly review — not mid-week after one bad day at the till.

Document the reason for the change in one sentence. Future you will thank present you.

Steady rules beat heroic improvisation.