The 5 Numbers Every Catholic Entrepreneur Should Know
“Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion?” (Luke 14:28).
Running a business is exciting — but it can also feel overwhelming. As Catholic entrepreneurs, we’re called to be good stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us. The above Scripture reminds us that we must pay attention to the numbers in our businesses.
When you know how your business is doing financially, you can make decisions with clarity instead of confusion. You can serve your customers better, provide for your family, and donate generously to those in need.
Numbers aren’t just about spreadsheets or taxes; they tell the story of your business.
Knowing the right numbers in your business can help you make wise decisions, avoid stress, and use your gifts to serve both your family and your clients.
Here are five numbers every Catholic entrepreneur should know when making decisions.
1. Revenue
While this one is pretty obvious, it’s the most important number. You need to know how much money your business is making. Believe it or not, there are a lot of people who do not know this number. This number tells us how much cash is coming into your business.
Without tracking revenue, you can’t measure growth or the success of your products. It is important to track each revenue stream to see what is and isn’t selling. If you have 20 items and five of them haven’t sold in a year, it’s time to retire those items and make room for new items.
2. Monthly Expenses
Do you know how much it takes to run your business? When you know this number, you can plan more effectively and set realistic revenue goals.
What are your monthly and annual expenses? Do you know everything you are paying for? Software is a big topic when it comes to expenses. Are there software or other subscriptions you are paying for that you are no longer using?
As we near the holidays and end-of-year sales, are there subscriptions you are not using that are going to renew soon? Make sure to log in and cancel them. Also, don’t fall for those “it’s write-off season” ads at year's end. You can write it off whether you buy it in December or February. There always will be write-offs. Don't buy anything just to write it off, as that can affect your cash flow. We want to make business decisions based on peace and not panic.
3. Loan & Credit Card Balances
It’s really easy to get stuck in the debt cycle. When you are just starting and low on cash, borrowing is an easy way to get started. But you need to be careful and come up with a payoff plan, or you’ll have an unmanageable balance.
Unmanaged balances can eat away at profit and cause unnecessary anxiety. Knowing exactly how much you owe, to whom, and the interest rate helps you plan repayment, avoid overspending, and protect your cash flow.
Keeping track of debt ensures you remain in control of your business, not the other way around.
4. Owner’s Pay (Providing for Your Household)
Many entrepreneurs forget to pay themselves or sometimes overpay themselves. But “a worker deserves his pay” (1 Timothy 5:18). Your business exists to provide for your household, not just to survive.
When you don’t pay yourself, you risk burnout. Paying yourself consistently brings stability to your family and confidence in your business.
When we don’t pay ourselves regularly, we tend to mix personal and business expenses, and that can make bookkeeping really messy really fast.
And if we aren’t paying ourselves, what is the point of running a business? You might as well not have a business and volunteer at a nonprofit.
5. Estimated Taxes
Every entrepreneur dreads tax season, but planning ahead will make it less stressful. Setting aside a portion of your revenue for taxes prevents surprise bills that cause stress.
A good rule of thumb is to save a percentage of each payment into a separate tax account. I adopted this strategy two years ago, and it has made the year-end process so much cleaner and easier.
Final Reflection
When you know these five numbers, you’re not just “doing bookkeeping.” You’re practicing faithful stewardship of the resources God has placed in your hands. You’re building your business on a strong foundation — one that supports your vocation and allows you to serve without constant financial worry.
I encourage you to set aside a day and a time to review these five numbers each month.
Write the numbers down and reflect on how they make you feel and what you can do to increase revenue and decrease debt and expenses. Create goals regarding what you want the numbers to look like each month or quarter for next year.
Learning these numbers in your business will create awareness so you can make better decisions to grow your business. Remember, you started your business for a reason. You want the freedom to live out your calling with confidence and do what God wants you to do.
Beth Anne Kaczmarczyk is a cradle Catholic and wife who is passionate in helping others in her community with her husband through the Knights of Columbus. She has been a QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor for over 10 years and runs her own Bookkeeping firm at BethAnneBookkeeping.com. She is passionate about helping small businesses understand their business finances so they can have less stress and grow their businesses. You can connect with her on her website, Instagram or join her monthly newsletter to receive a Monthly Bookkeeping Checklist!