Can I pay myself more?
Work out what you can take out this month without leaving a hole for tax, VAT or next month’s bills, whether you’re a sole trader or a director.
For UK sole traders & limited company directors
“Can I afford this?”
Know the answer before you commit.
What you can safely pay yourself. Whether that van, laptop or new hire will squeeze your cash flow. What has to stay put for the taxman. Worked out in plain English in about ten minutes, instead of guessed from your bank balance.
One-off payment · Price includes VAT · Built by a UK accountant
Sound familiar?
You check the bank app, feel flush, then a tax bill lands that you forgot was coming.
You want to pay yourself more but don’t know whether it’s salary, dividend or drawings, or how much is safe.
You need a hire or a big purchase, but you’re not sure you can carry it through a quiet quarter.
You ask your accountant and get “it depends” three weeks later.
The problem isn’t how much you earn. You’re making big decisions from the wrong number.
What it answers
The three money decisions every owner gets stuck on
Can I afford this purchase?
Van, kit, software, refit. Know if it’s a yes, a “yes, but finance it” or a “not yet” before you sign anything.
Can I afford to hire?
See the true cost of an employee (not just the salary) and how many quiet months you could carry them through.
What you get
- The “Real Balance” method. Strip out what isn’t yours (tax, VAT, commitments) and find the number you can actually use.
- Pay-yourself playbook. A clear order of play for sole traders and directors, with the tax traps flagged.
- Purchase & hire decision guides. Step-by-step yes / not-yet frameworks you can run in minutes.
- Set-aside rules of thumb. How much to ring-fence for tax so there are no nasty surprises in January.
- Plain-English, UK-specific. Written by an accountant for business owners, not for other accountants.
This is for you if…
- You run a UK sole trader business or limited company
- You make money but never feel sure what’s safe to spend
- You want answers today, not at year end
It’s not for you if…
- You want someone to do your books for you (that’s our accountancy service)
- You’re after investment or pension advice
Why I built this
I’m Lewis Smith, founder of Kodiak Financial. The question I get asked most by business owners isn’t about tax returns. It’s “can I afford this?” Most people answer it by looking at the bank balance, which is the one number that will mislead you.
This is the process I take clients through, packaged so you can run it yourself, whenever you need it, for less than the cost of an hour of an accountant’s time.
Can I Afford This?
£47
One-off payment · Price includes VAT · Instant access by email
Digital product delivered immediately. By purchasing you agree to immediate access and acknowledge you lose the 14-day cancellation right once access is provided.
Questions
Does it work for sole traders and limited companies?
Yes. Where the rules differ (drawings vs salary and dividends, income tax vs corporation tax), each is covered separately.
How do I get it?
Straight after payment you’ll get an email with your access link. Usually within a minute.
Is this personal financial advice?
No. It’s general guidance and a decision framework you apply to your own figures. If you want us to look at your specific situation, you can book a call with Kodiak Financial.
Can I claim it as a business expense?
Generally yes. It’s training for running your business. You’ll get a VAT receipt from Stripe.
Not ready yet? Start with the free version.
Get the free 5-minute Real Balance check: find out what’s actually yours in your business account today.