Freelance income gap calculator
Next month looks full, but what about month three? Enter the work you've already booked and see which months fall short, how long your savings last, and when you need to start looking for the next client.
Work already booked or signed, per month
| Month | Booked | Gap to fill | Savings left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next month | 5,000 | 0 | 8,000 |
| Month 2 | 3,000 | 2,000 | 6,000 |
| Month 3 | 1,000 | 4,000 | 2,000 |
| Month 4 | 0 | 5,000 | -3,000 |
| Month 5 | 0 | 5,000 | -8,000 |
| Month 6 | 0 | 5,000 | -13,000 |
Total gap over 6 months
21,000
Savings last until
Month 4
Your first gap is month 2 and a new client takes about 6 weeks to close, so start outreach this week.
How to use it
- Enter the income you need each month to cover your bills and pay yourself.
- Add the savings you could live on if work dried up for a while.
- Estimate how many weeks it usually takes from first contact to a signed new client.
- For each of the next six months, enter the work that is already booked or signed, not hoped for.
- Read the gap column and the outreach message: that's when you need to start filling the pipeline.
Then use the free pipeline calculator to see how many conversations it takes to fill a gap, and the follow-up email templates to win more of them.
See the gap months before they arrive
SteadyPipe asks one question each week: who are you talking to about next month's work? Log leads and follow-ups in under five minutes and get warned before your pipeline runs dry. Free, no card.
Start freeFAQ
- What is a freelance income gap?
- It's the difference between the income you need in a month and the client work already booked for that month. Most freelancers have a full next month and an almost empty month three, which is why income feels like feast or famine.
- How far ahead should a freelancer have work booked?
- A common goal is to have next month mostly booked and active conversations for the two months after it. If new clients take six weeks to close, anything less than about two months of visibility means you're already late.
- When should I start looking for my next client?
- Work backwards from your first gap: subtract the weeks it takes to close a new client from the weeks until that gap. If the answer is zero or negative, start outreach this week, even if you're busy right now.
- How much savings should a freelancer keep?
- Many freelancers aim for three to six months of expenses. The calculator shows how long your current savings would cover the gaps in your booked work, so you can see whether that buffer is enough.
- How do I stop the feast or famine cycle?
- Keep a small amount of outreach and follow-up going every week, especially when you're busy. A short weekly pipeline check shows the gap months early, while there's still time to fill them.