Free startup tool
Startup Runway Calculator
Startup runway is the number of months your company can operate before running out of cash. This calculator projects your cash position over time by factoring in revenue growth, expense drift, and planned hires so you can plan fundraising, hiring, and spending with confidence.
Simple runway
16.7 mo
At current burn rate
Net burn
$30.0K
Monthly cash loss
Cash on hand
$500.0K
Starting balance
Your numbers
Planned hires
No planned hires. Add hires to see how they affect your runway.
Cash projection
Projected cash balance over 36 months with 8% monthly revenue growth and 2% expense drift.
View month-by-month breakdown
| Month | Revenue | Expenses | Net Burn | Cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $15,000 | $45,000 | $30,000 | $500,000 |
| 1 | $15,000 | $45,000 | $30,000 | $470,000 |
| 2 | $16,200 | $45,900 | $29,700 | $440,000 |
| 3 | $17,496 | $46,818 | $29,322 | $410,300 |
| 4 | $18,896 | $47,754 | $28,859 | $380,978 |
| 5 | $20,407 | $48,709 | $28,302 | $352,119 |
| 6 | $22,040 | $49,684 | $27,644 | $323,817 |
| 7 | $23,803 | $50,677 | $26,874 | $296,173 |
| 8 | $25,707 | $51,691 | $25,983 | $269,299 |
| 9 | $27,764 | $52,725 | $24,961 | $243,316 |
| 10 | $29,985 | $53,779 | $23,794 | $218,355 |
| 11 | $32,384 | $54,855 | $22,471 | $194,561 |
| 12 | $34,975 | $55,952 | $20,977 | $172,090 |
| 13 | $37,773 | $57,071 | $19,298 | $151,113 |
| 14 | $40,794 | $58,212 | $17,418 | $131,815 |
| 15 | $44,058 | $59,377 | $15,319 | $114,397 |
| 16 | $47,583 | $60,564 | $12,982 | $99,078 |
| 17 | $51,389 | $61,775 | $10,386 | $86,096 |
| 18 | $55,500 | $63,011 | $7,511 | $75,710 |
| 19 | $59,940 | $64,271 | $4,331 | $68,200 |
| 20 | $64,736 | $65,557 | $821 | $63,869 |
| 21 | $69,914 | $66,868 | -$3,047 | $63,048 |
| 22 | $75,508 | $68,205 | -$7,303 | $66,095 |
| 23 | $81,548 | $69,569 | -$11,979 | $73,397 |
| 24 | $88,072 | $70,960 | -$17,111 | $85,376 |
| 25 | $95,118 | $72,380 | -$22,738 | $102,488 |
| 26 | $102,727 | $73,827 | -$28,900 | $125,226 |
| 27 | $110,945 | $75,304 | -$35,641 | $154,125 |
| 28 | $119,821 | $76,810 | -$43,011 | $189,767 |
| 29 | $129,407 | $78,346 | -$51,061 | $232,778 |
| 30 | $139,759 | $79,913 | -$59,846 | $283,838 |
| 31 | $150,940 | $81,511 | -$69,429 | $343,685 |
| 32 | $163,015 | $83,141 | -$79,874 | $413,113 |
| 33 | $176,056 | $84,804 | -$91,252 | $492,987 |
| 34 | $190,141 | $86,500 | -$103,640 | $584,239 |
| 35 | $205,352 | $88,230 | -$117,122 | $687,879 |
| 36 | $221,780 | $89,995 | -$131,785 | $805,001 |
How to use this calculator
Enter your current financial position
Input your cash on hand, monthly revenue, and monthly expenses to establish a baseline.
Add growth and hiring assumptions
Set monthly revenue growth rate, expense drift, and any planned hires with their cost and start month.
Review your runway forecast
See a month-by-month cash projection chart showing exactly when you'll run out of money or become profitable.
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Frequently asked questions
What is startup runway?
Startup runway is the number of months a company can continue operating before running out of cash, assuming current burn rate. It's calculated by dividing cash on hand by monthly net burn (expenses minus revenue).
How much runway should a startup have?
Most investors and advisors recommend maintaining 12 to 18 months of runway. This gives enough time to hit milestones, iterate on the product, and raise the next round of funding without making panic-driven decisions.
How do you extend startup runway?
You can extend runway by reducing expenses (cutting non-essential spend, renegotiating contracts), increasing revenue (improving conversion, raising prices), or raising additional capital. Many startups combine all three approaches.
What is the difference between runway and burn rate?
Burn rate is the amount of cash a startup spends per month (net burn = expenses minus revenue). Runway is how long that cash will last: cash on hand divided by net burn. Burn rate is a speed; runway is a distance.
Should I include planned hires in runway calculations?
Yes. Planned hires are one of the biggest factors in runway projections. Each hire increases monthly expenses from their start date forward, which can dramatically shorten runway. Always model hires explicitly rather than using a flat expense number.