The $10 Transfer that Will Change How You Run Your Business

When you’re running a business that deals with daily transactions that have multiple zeroes behind them, ten dollars doesn’t seem like much. But the reality is that $10 can change your business. 

It’s not the $10 itself, of course. An overpriced coffee is about all that will get you. But what’s behind the $10 is what’s so powerful. I’ve seen the shift in entrepreneurs many times over. 

That first ten dollars can feel a little silly, to be honest.

"I keep thinking there's got to be more to it," a client once said to me. "This feels too simple."

And it is!

Let’s dive into how you can start your business off on a new path to profits with just $10. 

Your Brain on "Later" vs "Now"

Six months after that same client and I talked about her first $10 transfer, she texted me a screenshot of her account balance: $1200. 

The title of the savings account she’d opened? Profits. 

“I’ve never had money just sitting in an account before,” she told me. She didn’t know what to do with it. We chatted about it, and decided she’d put $600 into an emergency fund for the business, and with the other $600, she’d take her team out for a well-deserved dinner. 

All she did was move the money before she had a chance to spend it. Her profits (and eventually, taxes, owner’s compensation, and business savings) became more like a bill payment than an afterthought. Instead of getting to the end of the month and hoping there would be something left over, the leftovers were built into the system from the outset. 

There’s some simple (but powerful) psychology behind this. When you tell yourself "I'll profit after expenses," your brain files that under "someday" and promptly forgets about it. 

But when you physically move money first—even if it's only ten bucks—your brain suddenly has to deal with a new reality: this business actually produces money.

It's like teaching your subconscious that profitability, paying yourself, and having money set aside for taxes and other business needs isn't a happy accident; it's the whole point.

Another client described it perfectly: "I stopped feeling like I was stealing from my business and started feeling like my business was finally doing its job."

The Compound Effect You Don't Expect

Here's what nobody tells you about that first small transfer: it doesn't just accumulate money. It accumulates confidence.

Month 1: You prove the concept works
Month 2: You start believing you deserve it
Month 3: You start making different business decisions
Month 6: You're running a completely different company

The money grows, sure. But more importantly, it becomes a system that takes virtually no effort and provides a ton of rewards. It makes decisions easy, tax time less stressful, and most importantly, it makes your business feel like the rewarding, successful venture it was always meant to be.

From One Account to a Complete System

Once you see that first transfer working, something interesting happens. You start wondering: "What other money should I be setting aside before I spend it?"

That's when clients usually discover they need money ready for:

• Quarterly taxes (because April surprises suck)

• Consistent owner pay (because you work here too)

• Business emergencies (because stuff breaks)

• Growth investments (because opportunities don't wait)

The beautiful thing about it is that the same principle applies to all of it. Move the money first, spend what's left.

The Day It Becomes Automatic

About three months in, something magical happens. You stop thinking about it.

Money comes in. Percentages get allocated. The business runs on what remains.

It becomes as automatic as paying your rent or buying groceries. Except instead of spending money, you're building wealth.

One client told me: "I used to spend twenty minutes every morning worrying about money, trying to make everything fit in the budget. Now I spend twenty seconds moving it to the right places and get on with the work that helps me make more money.”

Why This Works When Budgets Don't

Traditional budgets fail because they ask you to predict the future and then stick to your predictions. Spoiler alert: entrepreneurs are terrible at this.

But allocation? That's immediate. Money comes in, you deal with it right then. No guessing, no hoping, no complicated spreadsheets that are outdated before you finish them.

You're not managing a budget. You're just handling money as it arrives.

The Psychology of "Gone"

Here's the weirdest part: once money is allocated, your brain treats it like it's gone. You don't miss what you never had available to spend.

But when you try to "save what's left over"? Your brain sees the full amount as spendable and fights you every time you try to hold back.

It's like the difference between never having dessert in the house versus trying not to eat the cake sitting on your counter. Which one feels easier?

Start With Whatever Feels Ridiculous

The system as a whole can feel overwhelming; I get it. That’s why I teach entrepreneurs how to implement the system slowly and steadily in the Fast Track to Sustainable Profits course. 

We start with setting up your profit account and building confidence there. I always tell people to start where they feel comfortable, even if the amount seems negligible. 

If 1% feels too scary, try 0.5%. If that feels too big, try a flat $5 per payment you receive. 

The goal isn't to optimize from day one. The goal is to prove to yourself that your business can survive—and thrive—while building profit. 

Your Next Payment Is Your First Chance

You don't need a special day to start. You don't need to wait until next month or next quarter or next year.

Your next payment—whether it's $50 or $5,000—is your opportunity to test this.

Move something. Anything. Before you pay a single expense.

Then watch what happens to your relationship with your business.

(PS. If you want to get the step-by-step, sign up for the Profit First Quick Start Challenge and I’ll guide you through each step, day by day). 

When You're Ready to Scale It

That first small transfer is just the beginning. Once you see it working, you can build a complete system that handles all your business financial needs automatically.

But for now, all you need to do is prove to yourself that your business can be profitable. 

Because until you believe that's possible, nothing else matters.

Want to see how this simple concept becomes a complete financial system? Let’s talk through what this could look like for your business (using your actual numbers!)

Book a Profit Clarity Call and I’ll give you the complete picture.