Freelance Cash Runway Calculator

Not tax advice. Results are estimates built from the assumptions shown. Your actual taxes depend on your full situation. Check with a tax professional. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

Your cash and costs

Cash on hand $Checking and savings you could spend Set aside for taxes $Money that already belongs to the IRS or your state Monthly expenses $Personal living costs plus business costs Income in a slow month $Income in an average month $

How to read it

No income is your worst case: how long you can go if every client disappears.
Slow months show how far a thin stretch stretches your cash.
Many people aim for a few months of expenses in savings. How many is a personal call that depends on how steady your clients are.

Ways to lengthen your runway

Cut or pause fixed costs you can live without.
Invoice faster and chase late payers; see our late payment email templates.
Keep a separate tax account so spending money isn't tax money (Profit First).
Line up work earlier by keeping a short list of past clients to contact.

For tools that forecast cash flow automatically, see the budgeting and runway picks in our tool directory.

FAQ

What should my tax reserve be?

Use the tax you expect to owe but haven't paid yet. The quarterly tax calculator gives a federal estimate.

Why does average income say "indefinite"?

If your income in that scenario covers your expenses, you aren't spending down your cash, so there is no end date.