5G Network Consulting Break-Even Analysis: $103k Monthly Target

Fixed costs $75.5K/mo Monthly overhead

Contribution margin 73% After variable costs

Break-even revenue $103.4K/mo Revenue needed

Break-even timing Month 8 Launch ramp

Break-even calculator

Test monthly revenue, variable expenses, and fixed costs to see when a 5G consulting firm breaks even.

Lean Base Full

Monthly revenue Use the monthly top line before costs; it sets the margin pool. $ Lower sales Higher sales Variable expenses These are direct costs that move with billings, travel, and commissions. $ Low direct cost High direct cost

Money available to cover fixed costs $57,000 $67,000 revenue - $10,000 variable expenses

Margin ratio

85%

Covers fixed costs

$8,500 short

Fixed monthly costs This is the monthly cost base, including salaries and overhead. $ Lower overhead Higher overhead

Break-even chart Revenue Total costs

Which expenses are fixed, and which move with sales in a mobile network consulting firm?

Cost classification

Break-even is only useful if margin reducers stay out of overhead. Here, fixed overhead includes $35k/month payroll and $10k/month marketing, while percentage-based certifications, licenses, referrals, and travel reduce contribution before covering the fixed base.

Expense	Cost	Break-Even Treatment	Common Mistake
Office rent	Fixed	Include $12,000/month in the monthly break-even base from Month 1 through Month 60.	Spreading rent across projects and hiding true overhead.
Professional insurance	Fixed	Include $2,500/month as required operating overhead, whether the firm sells one project or ten.	Treating insurance as optional until client work starts.
Year 1 payroll	Fixed	Use $35,000/month for the first-year team before calculating the revenue needed to break even.	Counting only billable staff and missing management capacity.
Marketing budget	Fixed	Use $10,000/month in the first year based on the $120,000 annual marketing budget.	Replacing planned spend with customer acquisition cost only.
Third-party technical certifications	Variable	Reduce contribution by 8% of revenue in the first year because the model ties it to sales volume.	Treating certifications as overhead instead of a margin reducer.
Partner commissions and referral fees	Variable	Reduce contribution by 8% of revenue in the first year before covering fixed overhead.	Putting referral fees below the break-even line.
Project-specific travel and expenses	Semi-variable	Model at 6% of first-year revenue, then watch site-heavy projects because travel rises with delivery activity.	Treating travel as office overhead instead of project load.
Specialized software and field support	Semi-fixed	Model the 5% licensing load, but expect step-ups when more consultants need seats and support capacity.	Assuming software scales smoothly with every new sale.

How do lean, base, and full 5G advisory setups change break-even?

Scenario table

Lean trims fixed cost and lowers the break-even bar. Base sits near $103.4k a month, while full staffing and support push the target much higher.

Planning assumptions only; actual break-even will move with utilization, rates, and hiring timing.

Scenario	Monthly Revenue	Variable Costs	Fixed Costs	CM Ratio	Operating Profit	Break-Even Signal
Lean launch setup	$80.8k	$21.8k	$59.0k	73%	$0	Lower overhead makes break-even easier to reach.
Base advisory setup	$103.4k	$27.9k	$75.5k	73%	$0	This is the core break-even point for the model.
Full staffed setup	$345.1k	$93.2k	$252.0k	73%	$0	Higher payroll lifts the break-even bar sharply.

What breaks the break-even plan for 5G consulting?

Stress test

Base break-even is about $103k a month. A 10% revenue slip, a 10% fixed-cost hike, or a five-point margin drop can each push the target higher fast, and the combined stress case lifts it to about $122k.

Stress Case	Changed Assumption	Break-Even Revenue	Revenue Gap	Risk Signal
Current plan	No change; fixed costs hold at $755k and contribution margin stays at 73%.	$103k	$0 gap	Cash is tight until break-even arrives.
Revenue shortfall	Revenue lands 10% below the break-even run rate.	$103k	$75k gap	Delayed client signings can turn into a fast cash hole.
Fixed-cost pressure	Fixed costs rise 10% to about $831k.	$114k	$11k gap	Higher overhead raises the monthly target right away.
Margin pressure	Contribution margin falls from 73% to 68%.	$111k	$8k gap	Travel, subcontractors, and fee-heavy delivery eat the cushion.
Combined pressure	Fixed costs rise 10% and margin falls to 68%.	$122k	$19k gap	Weak sales plus cost creep can break the plan quickly.

Can you prove enough signed work before you lock in the office, hires, and travel?

Founder checklist

Before you sign a lease or hire into Year 2, prove the pipeline can hold about $103K in monthly revenue and keep cash above the Month 7 low of $206K. If that isn’t visible now, delay the office build and senior hires.

1Pipeline Proof$103K/mo

Confirm signed or late-stage work can support that monthly revenue and that buyers want design and implementation hours, not just short advisory calls.

2Fixed Load$65.5K/mo

Make sure the first-year run rate can carry about $65.5K a month in fixed cost, or the office and base payroll will outrun sales.

3Unit Margin73% CM

Check that Year 1 pricing still clears about 73% contribution margin after 13% COGS and 14% variable spend, so payroll has room.

4Staff RampMonth 13

Hold the second-wave hires until the first 12 months are full, because three roles start in Month 13 and idle staff slow break-even.

5Cash Cushion$206K

Protect the Month 7 cash trough, because minimum cash bottoms at $206K before breakeven arrives in Month 8.

6CAC Yield15 customers

Test whether $120K of marketing at $8K CAC really buys about 15 customers and whether they buy the higher-hour work mix.