Free Tool

Startup Runway Calculator

Calculate how long your startup can survive on current cash.
Plan fundraising timing and manage burn rate.

$

Total cash in the bank right now

$

Net cash outflow per month (expenses - revenue)

$

Current monthly revenue (for gross vs net burn comparison)

$

Total monthly operating expenses

%

Expected monthly revenue growth (for extended runway projection)

Know your runway

Enter your cash balance and burn rate to see how long your startup can survive and when to start fundraising.

The runway formula
Runway = Cash / Monthly Burn

Gross burn vs net burn

Understanding the difference is critical for accurate runway planning.

Gross Burn

Total monthly expenses—everything you spend regardless of revenue. Shows your fixed cost structure.

Formula
Gross Burn = Total Monthly Expenses
Use case
Worst-case planning if revenue drops to zero

Net Burn

Expenses minus revenue—your actual cash outflow. This is what determines your real runway.

Formula
Net Burn = Expenses - Revenue
Use case
Realistic runway based on current performance

How much runway do you need?

The right runway depends on your stage and goals.

<6 months

Danger zone

Need to fundraise immediately or cut costs drastically. Very limited time to execute.

6-12 months

Start fundraising

Enough runway to execute but should begin fundraising process soon.

12-24 months

Healthy runway

Time to focus on growth without immediate fundraising pressure.

💡 Pro tip

Raise for 18-24 months of runway. This gives you ~12 months to hit milestones before you need to fundraise again (fundraising takes 3-6 months).

How to extend your runway

Increase revenue

Every dollar of revenue extends runway. Focus on quick wins: price increases, upsells to existing customers, faster sales cycles.

Cut non-essential costs

Audit every expense. Cancel unused subscriptions, renegotiate contracts, defer non-critical hires. Every dollar saved is a dollar of runway.

Bridge financing

Consider convertible notes, SAFE agreements, or revenue-based financing to extend runway while preparing for a larger round.

Focus resources

Stop doing everything. Focus your limited resources on the 1-2 things that will most move the needle for your next milestone.

Validate before you burn cash

Use a waitlist to validate demand before building. Save months of runway by knowing people want what you're making.

Waitlister is the best multi-purpose tool for launching a product waitlist, newsletter or even just to gauge interest in your Website, project or domain name
C
Carlos T
Verified Purchaser, AppSumo

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