The 4 People I Pay First (Even Before I Pay Myself)

When people talk about investing in their business, they usually think of things like a new website, a paid ads campaign, or maybe upgrading their laptop.

But for me, the best investments have been people.
Real humans I trust — who keep my business healthy, my mind clear, and my decisions aligned with my long-term vision.

There was a time when I was doing everything myself.
Trying to figure out tax forms at 11pm, cleaning up invoices with a calculator in one hand and YouTube tutorials in the other. I was exhausted, overthinking every move, and working so much that I didn’t have time to actually grow the business.

I knew something had to change.

That’s when I made a decision:
If I wanted to build a business that felt sustainable — one that didn’t run on burnout — I had to stop thinking like a freelancer and start operating like a CEO.

So, I created my "core four."

These are the four people I pay before I even pay myself — because without them, there is no business.

Let me introduce you to them:

1. My Accountant

When I first hired an accountant, I thought I was just outsourcing taxes. What I didn’t realize was that I was hiring someone who could help me see the future of my business.

They help me map out what’s possible. Should I switch entities? Can I afford to hire? What would it look like to scale? They’re not just filing numbers — they help me think strategically and legally about where my money is going and why.

This is someone I talk to multiple times a year — not just in March.

2. My Bookkeeper

This role might not sound glamorous, but it’s game-changing.

Every month, my bookkeeper sends me a clean, updated snapshot of how the business is doing. Not what I think is happening — but what’s actually happening. What’s coming in, what’s going out, and where there are red flags.

I don't chase receipts. I don’t guess what I earned. I don’t wait until tax season to face the numbers. That kind of clarity is powerful — and freeing.

3. My Legal Support

I used to Google things like “free contract template” and hope for the best. It was a roll of the dice — and honestly, I got lucky a few times. But I also made some expensive mistakes.

Now, I have someone I can turn to for the big things and the small ones. Contract language, licensing questions, tricky client requests, trademarks — even just a second opinion when something doesn’t feel right.

Having legal support doesn’t mean I expect disaster. It means I’m building with stability and confidence.

4. My Business “Therapist” AKA Coach

This might be the most important person on this list.
Not because they help me with logistics — but because they help me manage me.

Running a business brings up so much internal stuff:
Fear, doubt, overthinking, imposter syndrome, decision paralysis. It’s not always about strategy — sometimes it’s about mindset. My coach helps me move through the hard stuff, stay grounded, and keep momentum when everything feels chaotic.

They help me work on the business instead of drowning in it.

This is the service I offer most of my clients and best believe I have one for my own business as well.

What I’ve Learned

Every single person I just listed has helped me feel more like a business owner — and less like someone trying to hold everything together with duct tape.

If you’re in that early phase where you’re doing it all yourself, I get it. I’ve been there. You don’t have to hire a huge team overnight. But I do recommend getting really honest with yourself:

• What’s draining you the most?

• What’s costing you time, energy, or money?

• Who could help you move faster (or sleep better)?

You don’t grow by doing more.
You grow by doing less of the wrong stuff, and focusing more on what you do best.

If you’re not sure who to hire first, or how to make it make sense financially, I’m happy to share how I started — and how I budgeted for each of these roles before I could "afford" them.

Reply if you want to chat more about it. Or if you just want to feel less alone in the chaos of building something that matters.