Free Startup Runway Calculator
Startup Runway Calculator
How long until you run out of money — or break even? Enter your cash, burn rate, and growth to see your runway in months.
Every startup founder wakes up at 3am wondering: "How long do we have?" Runway is the single most important number in early-stage companies — it determines when you need to raise, when to cut, and how aggressive you can be with growth. This calculator simulates your next 60 months: cash on hand, burn rate, revenue growth, and hiring plans → exact months until zero or breakeven.
How to Calculate Your Startup Runway
- 1
Enter your cash position
Total cash available today — checking, savings, and any liquid investments. Don't count receivables or future commitments.
- 2
Add your monthly expenses
Break it down: payroll, office, software, marketing, and other. This is your gross burn rate.
- 3
Set your revenue and growth
Current monthly revenue and expected month-over-month growth rate. 10% MoM is solid for early-stage SaaS.
- 4
Add hiring plans
Number of hires, average cost, and when they start. The calculator ramps hires over the period — not all at once.
- 5
Review your runway
See months of runway, breakeven month, cash balance chart, and monthly projections. Color-coded: green (18+), yellow (6-12), red (<6).
Why Runway Matters
Fundraising timing
Start raising when you have 6-9 months left. Fundraising takes 3-6 months — if you wait until 3 months of runway, you're negotiating from desperation.
Hiring decisions
Every hire reduces runway. This calculator shows exactly how each new hire impacts your months until zero, so you can hire confidently.
Growth vs. survival
With 18+ months of runway, you can invest in growth. Under 6 months, you're in survival mode. Know which mode you're in.
Board confidence
Your board and investors want to see this number. Having a clear, model-backed runway projection shows financial maturity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is startup runway?
Runway is how many months your company can operate before running out of cash, assuming current burn rate and revenue trajectory. It's calculated as: cash on hand ÷ net monthly burn (expenses minus revenue). This calculator adds growth modeling for a more realistic projection.
What's a good amount of runway?
18-24 months is ideal. 12-18 months is healthy. 6-12 months means you should be actively raising or cutting. Under 6 months is critical — you need to act immediately.
How do I extend my runway?
Three levers: cut expenses (office, unused tools, non-essential hires), increase revenue (raise prices, close deals faster, expand existing accounts), or raise capital. The easiest is usually cutting — a 20% burn reduction extends runway by ~25%.
Should I include revenue in my runway calculation?
Yes, but conservatively. "Zero-revenue runway" (cash ÷ total burn) is your worst case. Revenue-adjusted runway is more realistic but depends on your revenue being predictable. This calculator shows both net burn and gross burn.
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