Free tool
Emergency runway calculator
How many months you can survive.
Your result is an estimate based on the answers you enter. It is not filed or stored anywhere.
Method
How this calculator works
Runway is reserves divided by monthly essential spending. Employees are told to hold 3–6 months; freelancers need 6–12, because income interruptions are both more likely and longer — a lost anchor client can take two quarters to replace.
The tool computes your current runway, your gap to a target you choose, and the monthly transfer needed to close the gap in a timeframe you set. Keep this fund separate from your tax set-aside account — that money is already spoken for.
Estimates, not advice
Every figure this tool produces is a planning estimate built from the numbers you enter and simplified assumptions documented above. It is educational content, not individualized financial, legal, or tax advice. Rates, limits, and thresholds change — annual constants are reviewed each January, and you should confirm anything decision-critical against primary sources or a professional.
Questions
FAQ
Business or personal emergency fund?
Both, ideally: a small operating buffer in the business (1–2 months of business costs) and the main runway fund personally. This tool models the combined picture.
Where should the money sit?
A high-yield savings account — liquid, boring, earning something. See our business savings comparison.
Isn't 12 months excessive?
For volatile, single-client-heavy income, no. For diversified retainer income, 6 is defensible. Match the target to your concentration risk.