Bookkeeping

Owner's draw

An owner's draw is a withdrawal of cash or property from a sole proprietorship, partnership or LLC for the owner's personal use. It is not a payroll wage and is not deducted as a business expense.

Reviewed November 3, 2026

Why it matters

A draw reduces the owner's equity, not the business profit. Recording a draw as an expense understates profit and overstates deductions.

Example

A sole proprietor transfers $5,000 from the business account to a personal account. The bookkeeper records it as an owner's draw, not as an expense.

Related terms

Sources

Checked November 3, 2026. Public pages and tax rules change; confirm them before relying on them.

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