ADHD and Money: 5 Steps Entrepreneurs Can Take to Overcome Financial Overwhelm
Running a business with ADHD can make it feel like you’re living life in a constant state of overwhelm, especially when it comes to your money. You’re managing clients, deadlines, and a million other things, and then, BAM, something happens with your business or personal finances that makes it impossible to stay in avoidance mode any longer. Queue the feelings of overwhelm! Next thing you know, you’re knee deep in spreadsheets, trying to sort out how much you can pay yourself, or buried in receipts looking for something your bookkeeper or accountant needs.
Good news/bad news here. The more you take action with something, the easier it gets. ♥️ So at first it’ll be hard and uncomfortable, but each week it will get a little easier.
If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll deal with my finances later,” and then felt crushed by money stress, you’re not alone. I see you, and you don’t have to have it all figured out right now. You also don’t have to have all the answers, because there is help out there (like me, hey 👋). Research shows that people with ADHD are 4x more likely to struggle with debt than those without ADHD. And in a 2022 survey, 62% of entrepreneurs with ADHD reported experiencing financial anxiety at least once a week.
The good news? Financial overwhelm isn’t a life sentence. By using ADHD-friendly strategies (yes, they do exist), you can bring clarity, calm, and confidence to all things money in your life. And you’re definitely in the right place. Here are five simple steps that actually work for ADHD entrepreneurs.
Step 1: Build a Strategy That Leads to Fewer Decisions
ADHD brains thrive when decisions are reduced. Instead of managing dozens of moving parts, lean on systems and strategies. I could write a novel about all the steps you can take here, but we are going to start slow here because I know I have a freakish love of this topic, and I’m pretty sure you don’t. 😉
Step 1a: If you don’t have separate accounts for your business, it’s time! Co-mingling business and personal may seem like it makes things easier, but trust me, it’s making everything more complicated and adding stress. Start with a minimum of two accounts. One checking, and one savings.
Start to give the income that comes into your business a job on a regular basis. Since this will likely be new to you, start by designating some of your business income for taxes. I know, it’s not fun or sexy, but future you will thank you for this.
That savings account you opened (or will open) that’s now your tax savings account. And when we give your business income a job, we break it down by percentages. Because the money that comes into your business will vary, using percentages makes the most sense. If you’re unsure about the percentage to save for taxes, I’d love to share a free resource to help you figure it out. You can grab it here.
When you have a system that shows you exactly what to do with the income that comes into your business, it’s a huge relief for ADHD entrepreneurs who already juggle a million things.
Step 2: Create a Weekly “Money Date”
Instead of cramming financial tasks into once-a-quarter or annual tax prep marathons (which usually lead to procrastination), block out a 15–30 minute weekly money date.
During this time, you can:
Review business account and credit card transactions.
Send invoices, and follow up on any that are overdue.
Move money into your tax savings account (unless you do it more often).
Pay yourself by transferring money to a personal account (you can also do this less often, but if you had everything mixed before, starting with weekly can make the transition easier).
Hop into your bookkeeping software if you’re the one managing it, and classify any new transactions so you don’t forget what they are.
Make it a little less painful by pairing your money date with coffee, your favourite playlist, a cozy workspace, and maybe even a little sweet treat. By making it routine, you’ll take the emotional weight off money management and actually start looking forward to it (I know you just scoffed, but it is possible).
Step 3: Break Finances Into Small, Doable Steps
Big financial projects (like tax prep or building a plan for your money) can feel overwhelming, because when you’ve been avoiding them, they are! The ADHD brain often sees them as mountains, which leads to avoidance. The trick is to chunk them down.
Instead of saying: “I need to do my taxes.”
Say: “I’ll gather my 2024 receipts today.”
Instead of: “I need to get my finances organized.”
Say: “I’ll connect my bank account to my bookkeeping software this week.”
Micro-steps reduce overwhelm and create momentum. Each completed task gives you a little dopamine hit—the motivation boost your ADHD brain craves. Consider using Goblin Tools to help you break down bigger tasks. Warning: there is a delicate balance between tasks being too big and too small. I’ve run into situations before when the steps have been too small and that flipped it back to feeling overwhelming again.
Step 4: Look at the Big Picture
Many ADHD entrepreneurs don’t know how much they need to pay themselves to cover their personal expenses OR what it costs to run their business each month. Having an understanding of what these numbers are can start to clarify your financial picture.
AND when we know these numbers, it can help us set income goals for our businesses. When we partner these numbers with a clear strategy to save for taxes, it can start to lift the weight of overwhelm off our shoulders.
If you missed it earlier, check out my free Tax Savings Cheat Sheet, where I share guidance on exactly what to save for taxes, and you only need to know one number!
The earlier you put systems in place, the more control (and peace of mind) you’ll feel.
Step 5: Get Accountability and Support
Here’s the reality: managing finances as an ADHD entrepreneur doesn’t have to be a solo mission. Without one of the key factors that help motivate our ADHD brains (interest, novelty, challenge, urgency, or passion), we can get stuck in the avoidance loop forever.
Think about:
What has helped you be consistent with tasks or habits you weren’t excited to do in the past?
What strategies (gamifying, building in rewards) get you the most excited?
How has adding accountability helped you in the past? Is it an effective strategy for you?
How can you make the things you know you need to do a lot more likely to get done?
If you’ve had success with health and fitness goals in the past by working with a personal trainer, signing up for a race or other event, or working with a nutrition coach, one-on-one financial coaching could be what gets you out of your state of overwhelm with your finances.
If you’re ready to go from financial overwhelm to financial clarity, I’d love to help. I offer one-on-one financial coaching for entrepreneurs with ADHD. As a fellow ADHDer who went through huge financial transitions after getting fired, which led to me becoming a financial coach, I know you are capable of big changes too! Let’s work together to build simple systems that fit your brain, your life and your business.
👉 Book your free consultation today and let’s create a money plan you feel good about because it’s aligned with what’s important to you and how your brain works!
Parting Words of Wisdom
Money management doesn’t have to feel like a constant uphill battle. By creating ADHD-friendly routines, chunking tasks, planning ahead for taxes, and adding in accountability, you can finally break free from financial overwhelm.
Remember: ADHD isn’t a flaw, it just means your brain works differently. With the right strategies and support, you can thrive as both an entrepreneur and a money manager.
