Freelancer Budget Spreadsheet, Variable Income Budget, Self Employed Tax Set Aside Tracker, Irregular Income Planner, Google Sheets Excel

Turn lumpy freelance income into a steady paycheck. Log what clients pay and what you spend. The workbook sets aside your tax and retirement percentages, then pays you a smoothed amount from a buffer, and shows how many months of runway you have.
WHO IT'S FOR
Freelancers, consultants, creatives and self-employed people whose income changes month to month.
WHAT IT DOES
• Income log (600 rows) for invoices and payments, with days late or days to pay
• Pay smoothing: the average or the lowest of your last N months (or a fixed amount), with a minimum floor; pay is capped by what is in the buffer
• Buffer account with a target in months of essential spending, and runway by month
• Tax and retirement set-aside percentages taken off the top of business profit
• Quarterly set-aside vs estimated payments logged, with a status for each quarter
• Monthly budget vs actual for up to 30 categories
• Client summary: share of income, average days to pay, overdue amounts and a concentration flag
• Open invoices sorted soonest due first, with aging
• Dashboard with income, profit, tax savings, buffer, next month's pay, alerts and charts
TABS
Start Here · Dashboard · Settings · Income Log (600 rows) · Expenses (1,000 rows) · Monthly Plan · Budget · Tax Set-Aside · Clients · Invoices
WHAT YOU GET
• Instant digital download — no physical item is shipped.
• Excel workbook (.xlsx) plus a Buyer Access PDF with your Google Sheets copy link.
• Works in Microsoft Excel 2010 or later (Windows and Mac), Excel for the web, and Google Sheets (free Google account). No macros, add-ins or subscriptions.
• Fictional sample data is included so you can see how it works. Clear it when you're ready to start.
GOOD TO KNOW
• Formula cells are protected so they can't be overwritten by accident (no password). Light-tinted cells are for your entries, and dropdowns keep entries consistent.
• The tax set-aside uses a percentage you choose. It is not a tax calculation; ask a tax professional what to set aside and when estimated payments are due for you.
• Because this is a digital download, returns aren't accepted. If something doesn't work, message the shop and we'll help.
AI disclosure: This listing was made with the help of AI tools. AI helped draft the spreadsheet formulas, the listing text and the layout of the preview images. Every formula was then recalculated and checked for errors before listing, and the preview images show the real workbook's sample numbers.
Please note: This is a record-keeping template. It is not financial, tax, accounting, legal or HR advice, and it does not guarantee compliance with any law, regulation or rule. Check important results with a qualified professional.
Original design by SystemSheets. For personal or internal business use; please don't resell or share the file.