I use a labor percentage figure. Ultimately I would like to keep my labor percentage below 7.5 percent, allowing the business to carry whatever surplus there might be. So I base my figures one what I know I am going to bring in per month and figure wages based on 7.5% of that amount. I then schedule whatever other work I can within those labor hours so I never go above the 7.5% labor figure, but instead reduce that figure as I accept other jobs that can be fit within the frame I have created.
Each month as much surplus as I am able to, is retained in precious metals, in this way I can retain a commodity instead of selling it and paying taxes on the monetary gain. I do pay taxes on whatever metals I sell, and only sell raw metals to make up any difference required to hit my profit goal for any particular month. The other metals I sell are in the form of retail products, alloys for jewelers, shot for casting, plated items for specific applications, etc. My sales almost always make up and exceed my profit requirements, and I am usually left with a cash surplus as well that the business holds in it's accounts.
I keep the wage my business pays me each month relatively low so that I keep my personal taxes as minimal as possible. I have a business credit card I pay off at the end of each month, that gives me travel miles. So I never pay interest on the credit card because I always pay the balance, and whenever I use it I generate fly miles I can use for business trips. If I go out to dinner, I talk about my business so use the card to pay for dinner. If I purchase clothes that I wear to work in, I charge it against the business, anything I can legally associate with the business I charge against the card, and pay at the end of each month. This is how I make up for whatever I didn't pay myself in wages.
Ultimately I own the business, so whatever it makes in profit is mine, but since the business is considered an entity, and because I can retain precious metals as a commodity, I don't show the profit I could, and don't pay myself a high wage because it serves me better not to.
Scott
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