How much savings do you need to go freelance?
The classic advice is "six months of expenses", but that ignores the most important factor: how quickly your freelance income grows. Someone leaving with two committed clients needs far less than someone starting from zero.
This calculator assumes your monthly income grows in a straight line from your first-month income to your established income over the ramp-up period, then stays flat. It shows your balance month by month for two years.
Ways to shorten the ramp-up
- Sign your first client — ideally your current employer — before you resign.
- Start on evenings and weekends until freelance income covers a third of your costs.
- Invoice with short payment terms (7–14 days) and take deposits: late payments are the most common cash-flow killer.