Startups: don't forget about taxes.

When starters calculate finances, or salary, or profit, they might literally forget about taxes. And I do not mean 'forgetting' in a fraudulent way, they just don't take it into account. Depending on where you are in the world, that might be a big mistake.
In a previous post, "five common mistakes in your first business plan," we mentioned that many starters forget to include a salary for themselves. But you have to include the total picture: salary and taxes.
A salary is a 100% deductible expense for a business. But that salary is then taxed under the regime of personal income tax.
In many Western European countries, the taxman walks away with 50% of your income. So if you want 1'500€ of net monthly salary, your company will need to make 3'000€ per month or 36'000€ per year, to cover that cost.
The global average for personal income tax is close to 30%. So a 1'500$ monthly net salary will cost the company 2'142$, or 25'714$ per year.
As a starter, you need to know this information. And that is where your accountant comes in. You ask him to do the math on your net-gross salary calculation.

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Top 10 about the author; Erik Victor 

1. is a serial entrepreneur and started his career in Engineering
2. currently a majority shareholder in corporations in the fields of Industrial Real Estate, Wealth Management & Investment funds, and International Tax Planning
3. has a passion for the dynamics of young businesses and actively endorses several start-ups
4. is an engaged member of several think-tanks and an international conference speaker
5. has a business footprint in six countries
6. speaks five languages
7. personal life - resides in Europe
8. Erik (48) is known as a discrete and private person, a family man
9. loves to spend his limited holidays in the mountains or at sea on his yacht
10. Erik has no social media accounts



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