Entrpeeneurs who stress least about money don't start with what they hope to earn. They start with what they need make to survive.
The founders I work with who feel most confident about their numbers have one thing in common: they budgeted in reverse.
They don't ask themselves: "How much do I hope to make?"
They ask: "How much do I need to make to survive?"
Here's a 5-step framework to help you come up with that figure:
Calculate your one-time startup costs (entity, legal, tech)
Add monthly fixed business costs — the expenses you have to pay if you make a sale or not
Add your personal expenses — yes, yours count too
Multiply your total by 6–9 months — that's your runway target
Divide your target by the expected revenue per client — that's your sales goal
Most people skip steps 3 and 5. Step 3, because it feels uncomfortable. Step 5, because it turns hope into math.
The math is actually the kinder option. It gives you a target, not a prayer.
Are you budgeting forward or in reverse?
I help first-time founders become financially fluent CEOs so they can run their business with clarity and confidence.