How to Pay Yourself Through Your Business in Murrieta, Temecula, Wildomar & Menifee — A Guide for Every Entity Type
- Stephanie Peterson
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read

As a small business owner in the Murrieta, Temecula, Wildomar, or Menifee area, understanding how to pay yourself isn't just important, it’s essential for compliance, tax savings, and financial clarity. Whether you're a sole proprietor, LLC owner, S-Corp, or C-Corp, the way you draw income can vary dramatically. At Superior Virtual Bookkeeping, I help local business owners just like you navigate this with confidence.
Here’s a breakdown of how to pay yourself based on your business entity type.
Sole Proprietorship
Typical in Murrieta & Temecula among new entrepreneurs and home-based businesses.
How to Pay Yourself: Take an owner’s draw.
Tax Treatment: You’re taxed on the net income of the business, regardless of how much you draw.
Bookkeeping Tip: Keep personal and business accounts strictly separate, even though draws aren’t "expenses."
Example: If you're a dog groomer in Wildomar operating as a sole proprietor, you simply transfer money from your business account to your personal one, no payroll needed.
Single-Member LLC
Very popular in Menifee and surrounding areas for its flexibility and protection.
How to Pay Yourself: Similar to a sole proprietor, through owner’s draws.
Tax Treatment: The IRS treats you as a disregarded entity, income flows through to your personal return.
Important: Even though it’s an LLC, you don’t get to "pay yourself" a salary unless you elect S-Corp status.
Bookkeeping Pro Tip: Document every draw and consider setting up estimated quarterly tax payments.
Multi-Member LLC
Common for family-run or partner-based businesses in Temecula wine country and beyond.
How to Pay Yourself: Members take distributions based on the operating agreement.
Tax Treatment: Pass-through entity, profits are taxed whether distributed or not.
Recommended: Work with a bookkeeper (like me!) to ensure accurate capital account tracking for each member.
S Corporation
A powerful tax-saving structure for growing Murrieta & Menifee-based service businesses.
How to Pay Yourself: A combination of a reasonable salary and owner distributions.
Tax Treatment: You must run payroll for yourself (W-2). Distributions are not subject to self-employment tax.
Key: The IRS requires that your salary be “reasonable” based on industry standards.
Bookkeeping Necessity: You need to file payroll reports, withhold taxes, and stay compliant, this is where I can be a game-changer for your business.
C Corporation
Less common for small businesses, but still used by some in the Murrieta–Temecula region.
How to Pay Yourself: Through W-2 salary and dividends.
Tax Treatment: Corporation pays tax on profits; you pay personal income tax on salary and dividends.
Complexity Level: High. But with the right systems (like those I set up for my clients), it’s manageable.
Bonus: Don’t Forget Local Considerations
As a Murrieta-based business myself, I understand how state and local taxes, California LLC fees, and employment laws come into play. Whether you’re a Temecula winery owner or running a Wildomar-based salon, making the right payment choice can reduce your audit risk and improve your financial health.
Why Work With Superior Virtual Bookkeeping?
📍 Local Expertise – Proudly serving Murrieta, Temecula, Wildomar, Menifee, and the Inland Empire.
💼 Custom Solutions – Whether you’re a sole prop or an S-Corp, I tailor your bookkeeping to your entity and goals.
🧾 Tax-Smart Planning – I help you plan distributions, track draws, and manage payroll the right way.
Ready to Pay Yourself the Learn how to pay yourself the right way based on your business structure—whetherRight Way?
Let’s talk about the best way to structure your pay so your business runs smoother, your taxes are lower, and your books are squeaky clean.
👉 Contact me today for a free consultation; proudly serving Murrieta, Temecula, Wildomar, and Menifee.
📞 Call: (951) 440-3498
📧 Email: bookkeepingbystephaniep@gmail.com
🌐 Visit: www.superiorvirtualbookkeeping.com
Comments