A: With most start-up businesses, my advice is usually to focus on getting clients and building your business. You can repay yourself any money that you contributed from your personal account to the business to get started first. As your business grows and your bank balance increases, you should consider starting payroll for yourself. If you are an LLC treated as a sole proprietorship, you can take money out of the business as cash flow permits, as a member draw.

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If you are an S-corporation, the IRS requires owners of S-corporations to pay themselves a "reasonable salary". Reasonable is based on a few factors:

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How long have you been in business?

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How profitable your business is - typically recommend 50-60% of your net income should be your salary?

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What would a similar employee would make doing your job in your geographic area?

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Keep in mind, you can take part of the money out of the business as payroll, and the other portion will be shareholder distributions.