As a business owner, don't forget to pay yourself

Surveys show that only half of business owners pay themselves a salary. [iStockphoto]

Being your own boss is exciting. You get to work on your dream, decide your own schedule, and create jobs for others.

But there are some downsides that come with the entrepreneur lifestyle. One of the biggest downsides is that unless you're intentional with it, it's easy to overlook the importance of paying yourself a regular salary.