it always comes after my employees. In other words, if there's not enough to go around one month, guess who doesn't get paid. And, there are employees in my company that I pay more than I pay myself. If I were to go get a job as an employee at another company, I could actually make more money year in and year out. That is part of the sacrifice I make to help my company grow and to provide for my employees. In the past 5 years, I have paid myself on average 35% less than I could have conservatively made if I went and got another job. And during those same 5 years, I have not once paid myself my full budgeted salary. So, I keep sacrificing hoping one day, all the sacrifice will pay off...but there's no guarantee. I also have to sacrifice at home because I have money tied up as investment in the company. So, we don't live as comfortably as some friends/neighbors.

My company is not a min-wage company. But, if you told me that I had to increase payroll by 40% or 30% or even 20%...I would have to lay off employees and figure out how to do the work without them.