The Layoff Toolkit — free calculators for your first 90 days

Tool 01 · Runway01 / 04

How long will your severance actually last?

Three numbers in, three dates out — including the one that matters: the day you need your first client signed by. Clients take ~30 days to close and ~30 more to pay.

Severance + savings (after tax)

$

Everything you can actually spend: severance check, savings, final paycheck.

Monthly expenses

$

Rent, food — and health insurance. COBRA often runs $600–$2,000/mo. Add it.

Monthly income while looking (optional)

$

Unemployment, a partner covering part of the bills, side income.

Your dates appear here as you type. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.

Tool 02 · Take-home02 / 04

What a 1099 invoice is really worth.

As a W-2, your employer paid half your Social Security and Medicare. On 1099, all 15.3% is yours — before federal and state income tax. This is the April surprise, avoided.

Invoice amount

$

Set-aside rate: 30% A common starting range is 27–32% under ~$48k of profit, more above it. Your state changes this.

Tool 03 · Rate floor03 / 04

The rate that isn't a pay cut.

Old salary ÷ 2080 hours is the formula that keeps new freelancers broke. It ignores self-employment tax, health insurance, equipment, and every hour you can't bill.

Your old salary

$

Billable hours per week: 25 Half a freelance week goes to outreach, admin, and invoicing. 25 is realistic.

Tool 04 · Deadlines04 / 04

The four dates the IRS won't remind you about.

Freelancers pay income tax quarterly, in advance. Miss them and penalties accrue quietly. Here's the calendar, plus your next one:

—

Your next deadline

—

Days away

Apr 15 — Q1 estimated payment (Jan–Mar income)

Jun 15 — Q2 estimated payment (Apr–May income)

Sep 15 — Q3 estimated payment (Jun–Aug income)

Jan 15 — Q4 estimated payment (Sep–Dec income)

First year rule of thumb: if you set aside the Tool-02 percentage from every payment, each quarterly is already sitting in your tax account when the date arrives.

Your numbers card

Save your numbers.

One image with your runway, your deadline, your floor rate, and your set-aside — styled for your camera roll or your group chat.

Free download

The 1099 Tax Shock Kit.

A 10-page field kit that pairs with these calculators — the same system, on paper:

Your exact set-aside percentage, by income band

The 2026 quarterly tax calendar with amounts worksheet

The deduction checklist most new freelancers miss

The first-48-hours checklist and the pricing formula card

Three word-for-word scripts: late invoice, scope creep, rate raise

When you're ready to build

Every tool above has a bigger sibling.

Laid Off to Freelance: the full 90-day system — rate calculator, tax reserve spreadsheet, plain-English contract, invoice system that chases itself, and the exact outreach scripts for landing client #1.

Everything is a working file, not a course video

Built for 1099 beginners, in plain English

Get the toolkit — $49