Cost of delay
What waiting a few years to start a SIP can cost.
Your inputs
Total years if you start today.
Advanced settings
How the yearly return is applied
Most apps divide the yearly return by 12, which shows about 3.5% more over 10 years. We use the effective rate by default, so 12% means 12% a year.
Payment timing
Results
Generated on 11 Oct 2026
Your inputs
| Monthly SIP | ₹10,000 |
|---|---|
| Initial lumpsum | ₹0 |
| Expected return (per year) | 12% |
| Investment horizon | 25 years |
| Delay before starting | 3 years |
| How the yearly return is applied | Effective (12% = 12% a year) |
| Payment timing | Start of month |
Cost of waiting
₹52,12,725
30.6% less corpus
- Start now
- ₹1,70,22,066
- Start after 3 years
- ₹1,18,09,340
- Instalments skipped
- ₹3,60,000
- Monthly SIP needed if you start late
- ₹14,414
- if you start late but want the same corpus
See how a different amount, return or period changes the result, side by side.
Year-by-year breakdown
| Year | Start now | Start after 3 years | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ₹1,27,665 | ₹0 | ₹1,27,665 |
| 2 | ₹2,70,650 | ₹0 | ₹2,70,650 |
| 3 | ₹4,30,793 | ₹0 | ₹4,30,793 |
| 4 | ₹6,10,153 | ₹1,27,665 | ₹4,82,488 |
| 5 | ₹8,11,036 | ₹2,70,650 | ₹5,40,386 |
| 6 | ₹10,36,025 | ₹4,30,793 | ₹6,05,233 |
| 7 | ₹12,88,013 | ₹6,10,153 | ₹6,77,861 |
| 8 | ₹15,70,240 | ₹8,11,036 | ₹7,59,204 |
| 9 | ₹18,86,334 | ₹10,36,025 | ₹8,50,308 |
| 10 | ₹22,40,359 | ₹12,88,013 | ₹9,52,345 |
| 11 | ₹26,36,867 | ₹15,70,240 | ₹10,66,627 |
| 12 | ₹30,80,956 | ₹18,86,334 | ₹11,94,622 |
| 13 | ₹35,78,336 | ₹22,40,359 | ₹13,37,977 |
| 14 | ₹41,35,401 | ₹26,36,867 | ₹14,98,534 |
| 15 | ₹47,59,314 | ₹30,80,956 | ₹16,78,358 |
| 16 | ₹54,58,097 | ₹35,78,336 | ₹18,79,761 |
| 17 | ₹62,40,733 | ₹41,35,401 | ₹21,05,332 |
| 18 | ₹71,17,286 | ₹47,59,314 | ₹23,57,972 |
| 19 | ₹80,99,026 | ₹54,58,097 | ₹26,40,929 |
| 20 | ₹91,98,574 | ₹62,40,733 | ₹29,57,840 |
| 21 | ₹1,04,30,067 | ₹71,17,286 | ₹33,12,781 |
| 22 | ₹1,18,09,340 | ₹80,99,026 | ₹37,10,315 |
| 23 | ₹1,33,54,126 | ₹91,98,574 | ₹41,55,553 |
| 24 | ₹1,50,84,286 | ₹1,04,30,067 | ₹46,54,219 |
| 25 | ₹1,70,22,066 | ₹1,18,09,340 | ₹52,12,725 |
Assumptions and method
Formula
- FV = P · ((1 + i)^n − 1) / i · (1 + i) (payment at start of month)
- Cost = FV(start now) − FV(start after delay), same end date
- Catch-up SIP: monthly amount over the shorter period that reaches the on-time value
Conventions used
- Monthly rate: i = (1 + r)^(1/12) − 1 (Effective (12% = 12% a year))
- Money moves at the start of each month, so an instalment earns that month's return.
Not included
- Market ups and downs: the same return is assumed every month.
- Expense ratio, exit load and stamp duty, unless your expected return already allows for them.
- Income tax on gains (turn on the post-tax option to estimate it).
This is an illustration based on the return you entered. Actual returns vary and may be lower or negative.
Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.
How it works
Waiting to start investing has a cost: the instalments you skip, and the years of compounding they would have earned. This calculator compares starting now with starting after a delay, with the same end date.
It also shows the higher monthly SIP you would need if you start late and still want the same corpus.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the cost larger than the skipped instalments?
The money you would have invested first stays invested the longest, so it would have grown the most.
What return should I assume?
Use a figure you would be comfortable with if markets disappoint. For diversified equity funds over 10+ years, 10–12% a year is a common planning assumption; debt funds 6–7%. Returns are not fixed, can be negative over short periods, and past performance may or may not be sustained in future.