24: How much should we pay ourselves (and when)?

In this episode, Mitch and Gavin pull apart money, momentum, and mild panic: how we’re splitting revenue (hello, 40/40/20), why the iOS app is live but Android is still pending, early feedback from Laravel Live Denmark (thanks, Rasmus!), plus a candid chat about our fears — from deep water to wasting time — and how we’re evolving SixSides from “event app” to “community engine.”

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

The 40/40/20 split: founders’ wages, expenses, and tax (inspired by Profit First)
Why we’re paying ourselves now (with caps) and how that shapes hiring
Xero vs extra bank accounts for visual budgeting
Evolving beyond “an event app” toward ongoing community value and MRR
Our not-yet-shareable competitive advantage (moat-building in progress)
iOS app approved; Android still in review (and why OTA updates are magic)
Early feedback from Laravel Live Denmark and a sneaky newline login bug
Expo 101: what triggers app store review vs over-the-air updates
Doing unscalable setup now (YAMLs, imports) until the dashboard is ready
Founder fears: wasting time, letting people down, and healthy conflict
Consultative strategy: auditing conferences to open doors
Gavin’s daily YouTube updates and a smarter, deeper lead gen approach

Chapters:

(00:00) - Intro
(00:56) - Please leave us a review
(01:25) - Shout out to Dan Herbert (podcast workflow chat)
(03:34) - Money chat: paying ourselves and early revenue
(05:42) - Profit First inspiration and our 40/40/20 split
(09:39) - Xero vs multiple bank accounts (Mel’s advice)
(11:10) - Mindset shift and evolving revenue model
(12:40) - The secret sauce we can’t share (yet)
(14:44) - Consultative conference audits
(16:20) - iOS app approved; Android pending
(18:55) - OTA updates vs app store review (Expo explained)
(21:28) - Denmark feedback and the newline login bug
(27:58) - Topic: our fears (personal and business)
(42:18) - Conflict resolution and not wasting time
(44:45) - Gavin’s YouTube + deeper lead gen plan
(48:20) - What’s next and wrap-up

Atlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.

Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.

Links:

SixSides: sixsides.co
Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co
DealBuddi: dealbuddi.com
Build Your Saas: saas.transistor.fm
Mobile apps don't suck anymore: youtube.com
Profit First by Mike Michalowicz: mikemichalowicz.com

Connect with us:

Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is
Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav
Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye
SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides
SixSides on X: sixsidesevents
SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco