If you have ever looked at your bank balance and thought, “I should be doing better than this,” you are not alone. A lot of independent retailers work hard, sell consistently, and still feel like cash is always disappearing. One reason is simple. Without a plan, expenses expand and profit becomes whatever is left, if anything. In Episode 5 of our Profit First for Main Street Retailers series, Patrick Keiser summarizes one of the most practical concepts in Profit First: Target Allocation Percentages. The idea is not to create a perfect budget or to predict the future. It is to set a simple direction for how incoming money gets divided between Profit, Owner Pay, Tax, and Operating Expenses. Then you make small, realistic adjustments over time. In this episode, you will learn: What Target Allocation Percentages are and why the book uses percentages instead of detailed budgets How targets act like a compass for your cash flow, especially in a seasonal retail business Why the goal is progress, not perfection, and how small changes compound How to choose a starting point without trying to “fix everything” overnight A simple way to pick one bucket to improve and set a calm review rhythm If you are tired of managing money by gut feel and stress, this episode will help you start making financial decisions with more structure and less second-guessing. Keywords: Profit First, target allocation percentages, retail cash flow, small business finance, independent retailer, mom and pop shop, retail profitability, owner pay, operating expenses, tax savings, cash management, small business budgeting, Main Street business