How Do You Communicate A Labor Budget To Someone When Negotiating a Rate?

Here’s a tighter, more natural version:

“I keep it simpleI tell them the base has to stay within what the business can sustain, not just what we’d like to pay.

For performance pay, I position it as upside: instead of being capped, they can earn more as results come in.

If someone wants more and I can’t meet it, I’m upfront about it and show them what growth would need to happen to increase their pay. If that doesn’t work for them, they’re probably not the right fit right now.