Burn Rate & Runway Calculator

See exactly how long your cash will last, simulate different scenarios, and plan your next move with confidence. Use this startup burn rate calculator to estimate your runway and understand how long your business can operate before running out of cash. Enter your current cash balance and monthly burn to estimate your runway, then explore how changes in revenue, costs, or funding can extend it.

Enter your numbers

Total money currently in bank

How much you earn per month

Total spend per month

Expected growth in revenue per month

Your Financial Health

Runway (Current)

6 months

Runway (With Growth)

5 months

Net Burn / Month

$12500 Net burn

Time to Breakeven

10 months

Cash Runway Projection

1W1M6M1YAll Time

What is Burn Rate and Runway?

Burn rate measures how much cash your business spends each month, while runway tells you how long your current cash will last. Together, these metrics help you understand financial sustainability and plan ahead with confidence.

Burn rate includes all operating expenses such as salaries, tools, rent, and marketing. Runway is calculated by dividing your available cash by your monthly burn rate, giving you a clear timeline for how long you can continue operating.

What your runway means?

Less than 6 months → High risk. You likely need to cut costs or raise funding soon

6–12 months → Manageable, but requires planning

12+ months → Strong position with flexibility to invest in growth

Why runway matters for startups?

Helps you decide when to raise funding

Guides hiring and spending decisions

Signals financial health to investors

How to extend your runway?

Reduce non-essential expenses

Improve revenue or pricing

Delay hiring

Raise additional capital

Tip: Even small changes in burn can significantly increase your runway

Burn Rate vs Runway

FeatureBurn RateRunway
What it measuresMonthly cash spentTime before cash runs out
UnitCurrency per monthMonths
PurposeTracks spending speedEstimates survival time

To understand when your business becomes sustainable, use the Break-Even Calculator.

Benchmarks

MetricHealthy Range
Runway12–18 months
Burn growthControlled
Cash planning6+ months visibility

Example Scenario

Cash:

$500,000

Revenue:

$20,000

Expenses:

$70,000

Net burn:

$50,000

Runway:

10 months
This startup should consider raising funds or reducing burn.

Who Should Use This Calculator?

Founders and operators use it to plan hiring and spending.

Finance teams use it for forecasting and cash planning.

Early-stage businesses rely on it to understand survival timelines.

Investors use it to assess financial discipline and risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is burn rate?

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Burn rate is the amount of money you spend each month to run your business. It includes all operating costs such as salaries, tools, rent, and marketing expenses. Monitoring burn rate helps you understand how quickly you are using your available cash.

What is cash runway?

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Cash runway refers to the number of months your business can continue operating before running out of money, based on your current burn rate. It gives you a clear timeline for when action may be needed.

How do I calculate burn rate and runway?

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Burn rate is calculated as your total monthly expenses minus revenue. Runway is calculated by dividing your total cash balance by your monthly burn rate. This tool automates both calculations for accuracy.

What is considered a healthy runway?

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A runway of 12 to 18 months is generally considered safe, as it gives enough time to grow revenue or secure funding

How can I extend my runway?

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You can extend runway by reducing costs, increasing revenue, improving margins, or delaying non-essential spending. Even small changes can significantly increase runway.

Stop calculating runway manually

Get a real-time view of your burn rate and runway, automatically updated as your finances change.