As a business owner, you’ve probably asked yourself at some point:
“How many sales do I need to make to live the life I really want?”
But here’s the thing — if you haven’t crunched the numbers, you’re not building a business… you’re gambling.
This article will show you how to:
✅ Work out how many sales you need to fund your dream lifestyle
✅ Understand the role your average order value (AOV) plays
✅ Factor in taxes so you’re not caught out
✅ Create a business that supports your goals — not the other way around
Let’s break it down.
Step 1: Define Your Dream Life (and What It Costs)
Instead of aiming to “just get by,” ask yourself what you really want.
- What does your ideal lifestyle cost per month?
- Think holidays, mortgage, family support, leisure time, savings, staff at home — everything.
- Include a buffer. Real-life comes with surprises.
Let’s say your ideal life requires £8,000 per month. That’s £96,000 per year — after tax.
Step 2: Factor in Taxes and Business Costs
Many business owners forget the taxman when setting income goals. If you’re a limited company or sole trader, you’ll likely need to generate around 30% more than your take-home income to cover taxes and expenses.
To take home £96,000, you may need to generate around £125,000–£140,000 in annual profit.
This is where solid business financial planning and working with a good accountant pays off.
Step 3: Know Your Average Order Value (AOV)
Now calculate your average order value — the average amount a customer spends per transaction.
Example:
If your AOV is £500, then to hit £140,000, you need:
👉 280 sales per year = 24 sales per month = 6 sales per week
If your AOV is just £50?
👉 You’ll need 2,800 sales per year. That’s a whole different business model.
This number tells you whether you’re running a high-volume, low-ticket business… or if you need to adjust your pricing or offer structure to reach your goals more easily.
Step 4: Reverse-Engineer Your Dream Business
Once you know:
- Your dream lifestyle cost
- The pre-tax income required
- Your average order value
…you can build a marketing and sales plan that supports those goals.
This is where business coaching becomes powerful — helping you:
✅ Raise prices with confidence
✅ Increase your AOV through bundling or upsells
✅ Simplify your targets
✅ Align your business with your life goals
Need Help Creating a Business That Supports Your Dream Life?
At Business Coaching Manchester, we help entrepreneurs and small business owners like you:
- Build profitable pricing strategies
- Design business models that support lifestyle goals
- Create predictable, scalable growth
📍 Based in Manchester — supporting clients across the UK
📞 Book a free 1-to-1 discovery session now at www.businesscoachingmanchester.com
Start with the lifestyle you want — then build the business to match.