Your runway is how many months your savings can cover your expenses
This calculator shows how long you can sustain your freelance business with current savings. Add expected income to see how much longer your runway extends.
How to use this calculator
Enter your total savings available for business and personal expenses. Input your monthly expenses including rent, food, insurance, business costs, and everything else you spend. Optionally add expected monthly income from existing contracts or part-time work. The calculator shows how many months you can sustain your business before running out of money.
How runway is calculated
Runway is your savings divided by your net burn rate. Burn rate is monthly expenses minus monthly income. If income exceeds expenses, your runway is infinite — you're profitable.
Runway (months) = Savings / (Monthly Expenses - Monthly Income)Frequently asked questions
How much runway should I have before going freelance?
Aim for 6-12 months of expenses saved before quitting your job. 6 months is aggressive but doable if you have clients lined up. 12 months gives you breathing room to build your business without panic. Less than 3 months is risky unless you have guaranteed contracts.
What counts as monthly expenses?
Everything: rent, utilities, food, insurance, transportation, debt payments, subscriptions, business software, hardware, workspace, marketing, and professional services. Don't forget annual costs like tax preparation or insurance — divide by 12 and include them.
Should I include expected income in my runway calculation?
Only include guaranteed recurring income like active retainers or signed contracts. Don't count hoped-for projects or speculative sales. Freelance income is unpredictable — better to be conservative and pleasantly surprised than optimistic and broke.
What do I do when my runway is running low?
At 3 months: aggressively pursue new clients, consider part-time work, cut non-essential expenses. At 1 month: accept any reasonable paid work, seriously consider returning to employment. Don't wait until $0 — job searches take time.
Can I reduce my runway target as my business grows?
Yes. Once you have consistent income and multiple reliable clients, you can operate with 3-6 months runway instead of 12. Established freelancers with diversified income often maintain 3-6 months as their safety net.