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How much should founders be paying themselves if they’ve raised venture capital? Unsurprisingly, salaries increase as round size goes up. Here's the 2025 data: Small rounds (<£200k): founders keep salaries low - around £25k - £40k is common, with many founders not taking a salary at all. Medium rounds (£200k - £700k): salaries typically rise into the £40k - £60k range. Large rounds (£700k+): founders are more likely to pay themselves £80k - £100k+. So in summary, small rounds sub 200k pounds, founders paid themselves 25 to 40, medium rounds 40 to 60, and then large rounds 700k plus, it's typically 80 to 100k. So it's quite interesting to see how this changes, specifically with how much you actually raised. But the report actually then goes on to showcase how these salaries have changed over the last 5 years. So they take a large round of 700 grand to 10 million quid or whatever it is, and they show 5 years ago that the average salary that founders were paying themselves was 60,000. And it's gone up to 80,000 in 5 years. So that's pretty significant. In summary, small rounds sub 200k, the average is 25k to 40. Medium rounds 200 to 700, 40 to 60, sorry. And then large rounds 700k plus, it's typically 80k to 100k. Of course, these have to be justifiable, like let's just put that out there. Every salary and every pound you take out the business has to be justifiable, but these are the averages. Yes, if you're a founder, don't feel like you're not allowed to take a salary if you've raised venture capital. Part of an investor's job is to capitalize the business so you as a founder don't have to worry about a salary in the short term, you know, you need to live. And also you need to take your mind off that so you can focus on the business. That's ultimately what investors are helping you to do. So in summary, small rounds sub 200k, the average is 25k to 40. Medium rounds 200 to 700, 40 to 60, sorry. And then large rounds 700k plus, it's typically 80k to 100k.