Let’s tell the truth: hitting seven or even eight figures in revenue is a milestone—but it’s not the finish line. And it’s certainly not the same thing as building wealth.
You’d be surprised how many entrepreneurs cross that million-dollar mark only to realize they’re still living invoice to invoice, carrying the weight of the business on their back, and feeling like a well-paid employee in the empire they built. I have seen reports that show that 78% of those who cross 7 figures don’t sustain it over time because revenue isn’t the same as wealth and unless you have a positive relationship with money, you may mistake your revenue accomplishments as an indication that you are doing “well.”
A study by the Exit Planning Institute found that over 80% of business owners have 90% or more of their wealth tied up in their business. Translation? They look rich on paper but have no real liquidity, no safety net, and no transferable wealth strategy in place. That’s not sustainable—and it’s definitely not freedom. This means their financial security is dependent on continued operations, rather than strategic wealth-building. Remember that wealth is about making your money work for you, not the other way around. So, if you have to effort to earn, you’re not building wealth, you have a job.
Let’s be clear: the goal isn’t just to make more money—it’s to turn revenue into lasting wealth that pays you, protects your financial future, and builds long-term assets.
In our Haus of Millions® Business Advisory Programs, we teach our clients to net $1,000,000 in 1-3 years following a streamlined approach to pricing, positioning and service delivery.
We’re not here to hustle for high revenue. We’re here to structure our businesses to pay us, protect us, and provide long-term legacy. That’s the move from entrepreneur to CEO.
That’s the shift from short-term scale to sustainable wealth.
Here are five ways to make that shift now:
1. Separate CEO Pay from Business Revenue
This is one of the biggest shifts you’ll make in your wealth journey: treating yourself like the highest-performing employee in your company—not the last one to get paid.
Too many entrepreneurs reinvest everything back into the business out of fear, guilt, or poor financial planning. And while reinvestment is necessary at certain growth stages, it should never come at the cost of your financial stability as the CEO.And at this juncture of revenue, you should already be a W2 on payroll paying yourself more than a “reasonable salary” as defined by the IRS. Your business is generating at a level that allows you to be paid as the executive you are. You pay shouldn’t just cover your expenses; it should fund your wealth creation.
At this level, paying yourself a salary isn’t the goal—it’s the baseline. The real move is to elevate how you pay yourself so it creates personal wealth, supports tax efficiency, and reflects the evolving value you bring to the business.
You’re no longer just running operations. You’re holding the vision, directing strategy, making high-stakes decisions, and steering the company toward generational impact. Your compensation should reflect that.
Here’s how to take it further:
- Shift from reactive to strategic compensation. Build a formal compensation model that includes base salary, quarterly profit distributions, and performance-based bonuses tied to key business milestones.
- Align your pay with your wealth goals. How much of your income is working for you outside the business? Your compensation structure should seed your investments and fund your lifestyle—without starving the business.
- Audit your compensation annually. As the business grows, your salary and distributions should scale in alignment with profit and cash reserves—not stay stuck at early-stage levels.
Million Dollar Move: Conduct a compensation audit. Ask your CFO, bookkeeper, or financial strategist to review your current CEO salary, distributions, and bonuses to ensure they align with your profitability and long-term wealth goals.
2. Optimize Your Tax Strategy to Keep More Money
Here’s the truth: taxes are one of the biggest silent killers of entrepreneurial wealth.
As you scale, the IRS becomes your biggest “business partner”—unless you have a proactive strategy to reduce liability and legally keep more of what you earn.
This is how CEOs move differently:
- Maximize Deductions: Legitimately reduce taxable income with qualified expenses (home office, travel, team, marketing).
- Use Tax-Advantaged Retirement Plans: Contributing to plans like a SEP IRA, Solo 401(k), or even a Defined Benefit Plan not only secures your future, it shrinks your tax bill.
- Structure for Tax Efficiency: Sometimes an LLC isn’t enough. At certain revenue levels, an S-Corp or C-Corp election could unlock massive savings.
Million Dollar Move: Book a strategy call with your CPA or tax advisor. Don’t wait for tax season—start optimizing now.
3. Build Wealth Beyond the Business
Your business is a vehicle—it’s not the destination.
When all your financial eggs are in one basket (even if that basket is high-earning), you’re vulnerable. True wealth is diversified, protected, and working for you whether you show up or not.
Here’s how high-level CEOs move beyond:
- Invest in Income-Producing Assets: Take profits and buy real estate, dividend-producing stocks, or other passive income generators.
- Create a Wealth Protection Plan: Think trusts, insurance, and tax-sheltered accounts to shield your legacy from market shifts and legal risks.
- Plan for an Exit—Even If You’re Not Leaving Yet: Structuring your business like it could be sold tomorrow makes it stronger, more scalable, and more valuable today.
Million Dollar Move: Choose one non-business investment strategy and start allocating a percentage of your profits toward it.
4. Shift from Active Income to Passive Income
Most CEOs are trapped in the cycle of trading time for money, even at the seven-figure level. Let’s be real—many seven-figure entrepreneurs are still stuck in the do more, make more trap. That’s not wealth. That’s well-paid burnout.
To become the CEO of a company that pays you long after you’ve stepped off the stage or closed your last client file, you need scalable, sustainable income flows.
Start here:
- Create Recurring Revenue Streams: Memberships, licensing, digital assets, affiliate programs—your genius can pay you in perpetuity.
- Systematize Operations: The less the business depends on you, the more it becomes a true asset—not just a job with a fancy title.
- Invest for Cash Flow: Real estate, index funds, REITs, or dividend portfolios let your money multiply itself.
Million Dollar Move: Identify one passive income opportunity you can develop in the next 6–12 months. Prioritize it like your future depends on it—because it does.
5. Protect Your Wealth with Smart Financial Planning
You don’t just build wealth. You guard it.
Without proactive planning, one unexpected moment—a lawsuit, economic downturn, or major client loss—can unravel years of progress. Protection is not paranoia; it’s preparation.
Here’s what wealth protection looks like:
- Diversify Business Income Streams: One offer, one client, or one marketing channel is too fragile a foundation.
- Build a Business Emergency Fund: At least 3–6 months of expenses, liquid and ready, creates breathing room.
- Implement Asset Protection Strategies: Use legal entities, insurance, and advanced financial vehicles to secure what you’ve built.
Million Dollar Move: Review your financial risk protection plan and set a goal for strengthening it this quarter.
Why This Matters
You didn’t build your business just to make money. You built it to change lives—including your own.
Seven or eight figures in revenue is just the beginning. When you structure your business to pay you, fund your wealth, and free your time—you don’t just run a company. You become the CEO of a legacy.
Need Support Building Capacity to Scale? Here’s How We Can Help:
- Grab my book, Move to Millions: The Proven Framework to Become a Million Dollar CEO with Grace & Ease Instead of Hustle & Grind. Available everywhere books are sold or at www.movetomillionsbook.com
- Join us at Move to Millions® Live 2025: This is THE event for mid-6 to 7-figure entrepreneurs ready to elevate their soul, strategy, and systems for sustainable scale. Get all the details at www.movetomillionsevent.com
- Apply to work with us inside the Haus of Millions®, our suite of business advisory programs designed to help you go from overwhelmed operator to aligned CEO. Get the details at www.hausofmillions.com
