Emergency Fund Strategies For Small Business Owners

One of the simplest shifts I teach SMB owners: segment your cash into 3 buckets. Here’s why... “Do we have enough cash in the bank?” is the wrong question to manage your liquidity. One unexpected event, a delayed customer payment, a downturn, an acquisition opportunity, and you’re exposed. That’s why we coach clients to build a tiered liquidity strategy: 1. Operating cash. This is the cash you need to run day-to-day operations. It covers payroll, rent, vendors, taxes. We typically advise keeping at least 1–2 months of expenses here. Too little and you’re constantly stressed. Too much and you’re leaving money idle. 2. Emergency reserves. This protects against shocks: a major customer defaults, sales slow down, market shifts. For most SMBs, 3–6 months of fixed costs is a good target. 3. Strategic cash. This is your “offense” layer. Funds set aside for opportunities: buying a competitor, launching a new product, hiring a key executive. You’d be surprised how many companies miss out on great opportunities because they lack strategic liquidity. The key is to be intentional. Most businesses mix all their cash in one pile. That makes it hard to know what’s truly available for growth vs. survival. Segment it. Know your numbers. Build discipline around each tier. The companies that do this not only sleep better at night. They also move faster when opportunity knocks. Liquidity isn’t about having cash. It’s about having the right cash in the right place.

Most founders think they have an emergency fund. Until they actually need one. They set aside a vague amount that feels right. But when the revenue dips, it barely lasts a month. I’ve seen it happen way too many times. That’s why I built my emergency fund with intention and not emotion. Here’s how I did it (and helped my clients do the same, too)- 1. Calculate your 3-month burn rate.  ⤷ This includes salaries, rent, tools taxes. That’s your base. 2. Add an extra buffer for “business hiccups.” ⤷ A slow quarter, late payments, or a surprise compliance bill. Expect the unexpected. 3. Automate 5-10% of monthly revenue into a separate account ⤷ No thinking. No skipping. Treat it like a non-negotiable expense. 4. Revisit it every quarter ⤷ As your business grows, so should your safety net. When you have a safety net, you stop making desperate decisions. You start making better ones.

Your emergency fund probably isn't big enough. There, I said it. Most financial "experts" are still pushing the same outdated advice: "Save 3-6 months of expenses and you're good to go!" This could be dangerous for most business owners and high-earners today. → If you're bringing in variable income → If you're self-employed → If you have people depending on your earnings The standard 3-6 month emergency fund is playing with fire. Here's why: When you run your own business or have commission-based income, market downturns and economic factors don't just affect your investments—they hit your actual income. Exactly when you might need cash the most, your ability to generate it could be compromised. I've seen it happen: → The fitness business that had to completely shut down for 4+ months  → The sales professional whose commissions dried up for 3 months None of them anticipated these scenarios. All of them wished their cash reserves were larger. For business owners and variable income earners, this is probably more in line: → 6-12 months of expenses  → Separate business and personal emergency funds → Additional cash reserves for business opportunities This isn't about fear. It's about freedom. A robust emergency fund doesn't just protect you—it empowers you to take strategic risks, seize opportunities, and sleep soundly regardless of market conditions. Will this approach mean slower investing in the beginning? Maybe. Will you thank yourself when (not if) the unexpected happens? Absolutely. I'd rather see a fully funded emergency fund before focusing on growth.