— Education Hub
Field guides for owners who'd rather be working.
Real answers to the payroll, tax, and audit questions we get asked weekly by contractors, shop owners, and restaurant operators.
— Free tool
Profit & Payroll Calculator
Punch in your revenue, see exactly how much should hit your pocket every month — and what you're leaving on the table.
How to Build a Small Business Financial Plan — the Profit First Way
Skip the 30-page SBA template. The one-page financial plan we build with every client — Real Revenue, bucket percentages, 12-month projection, off-plan triggers.
Read articleAccounting, HR & Insurance — The Business Adjacency Guide (2026)
How accounting, HR, and insurance interlock to drive compliance, cash flow, and risk control for owners in California and Nevada.
Read articleCalifornia Overtime Rules — Plain-English 2026 Guide
Daily OT, double time, the seventh-day rule, meal-break premiums, and the regular-rate math that auditors love. The full CA OT picture for trades and restaurants.
Read articleHow to Pay Yourself From an S-Corp — 2026 Owner's Guide
Reasonable salary, distributions, the 60/40 myth, and the Profit First buckets that make S-corp owner pay actually work in CA and AZ.
Read articleProfit First for Contractors — The Real Playbook
Bucket percentages for plumbers, electricians, HVAC, and GCs — handling job deposits, materials pass-through, and payroll funded before crew.
Read articleProfit First Setup — The Step-by-Step Guide We Actually Use
Skip the theory. The exact 7-step setup we walk every new client through — accounts, percentages, the 10/25 rhythm, and the first 90 days.
Read articleThe Right Bank Accounts for Profit First (and Which to Avoid)
Which banks support the 5-account setup free, which charge fees, and exactly what to open in the next hour.
Read articleProfit First for Service Businesses — The Real Playbook
The book gives you the framework. This is what running Profit First actually looks like inside a contractor, restaurant, salon, or trade shop.
Read articleHow to Pay Yourself From an LLC — 2026 Owner's Guide
Single-member, multi-member, or S-corp election — the right way to pay yourself, what the IRS expects, and how much to set aside for taxes.
Read articleBest Payroll Software for Small Business in 2026
Gusto, QuickBooks, ADP, Paychex, Rippling — what each is actually good for, where they fail blue-collar shops, and when software isn't enough.
Read article7 Cash Flow Mistakes That Quietly Kill Contractors
Revenue is up, the bank account isn't. Seven leaks we see on contractor P&Ls every week — and the Profit First fix for each.
Read articleRestaurant Tip Reporting in 2026 — Plain-English Guide
Tip pools, FICA tip credit, service charges vs tips, and the audit triggers we see every quarter. CA, NV, AZ specifics.
Read articleQuarterly Estimated Taxes for Business Owners — 2026
Due dates, safe harbor, and the bucket method that turns quarterlies into a 10-minute job instead of a panic.
Read articleGusto vs Paychex vs Profit First Payroll — Which Is Right for Your Trade?
Standard payroll gets the job done. Profit First Payroll runs payroll AND protects your profit. The honest breakdown.
Read articleHow Should I Pay Myself as a Blue-Collar Business Owner?
The big question every owner asks but few answer right. The Profit First bucket system that pays you first — every time.
Read articleEmployee vs. Independent Contractor — Get It Right in CA, NV, AZ
The single most expensive payroll mistake we see. State-by-state breakdown plus the gut check that beats any contract.
Read article2026 Overtime Rules & Exemptions for Field Workers
Daily vs weekly OT, exempt salary thresholds, and the state traps that drain cash. Updated for 2026.
Read articleS-Corp Reasonable Comp + the Profit First Accountability Plan
Why 'reasonable salary, then distribute' isn't enough — and the accountability plan that keeps owner pay protected.
Read articleNevada Modified Business Tax (MBT) — Plain-English Guide for 2026
Nevada has no income tax — but it does have MBT. Thresholds, rates, and the deduction most owners miss.
Read articleNevada MBT Form (TXR-020.04) — How to File Step-by-Step
The exact form, the exact lines, and the three errors that get every new Nevada owner hit with a penalty notice.
Read articleNevada Workers' Comp Audit — How to Survive (and Get Money Back)
The 3 mistakes that always trigger a surprise WC bill in Nevada — and how to walk out of the audit with a refund.
Read articleClark County Contractor Licensing + Payroll — What You Actually Need
NSCB, state, and city licensing for Las Vegas, Henderson, and unincorporated Clark County — plus where payroll quietly kills your license.
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— Founder story
Built by blue-collar, for blue-collar.
Profit First Payroll was founded by Matt Frechette, who brings 20+ years of hands-on experience in blue-collar environments. He's seen shops thrive — or unravel — because of poor cash flow, inconsistent owner pay, late crew checks, and workers' comp audit nightmares. PFP is built explicitly for trades and labor-heavy businesses: proper crew classification, project-based volatility, and protecting profit in high-risk industries.