Runway Calculator
Estimate how long your cash will last
What is Cash Runway?
Cash runway is the number of months a startup can continue operating before it runs out of money. It is arguably the most important operational metric for early-stage companies because running out of cash is the top reason startups fail.
Key Terms
The estimated number of months remaining before a company exhausts its cash reserves at the current spend rate.
The monthly rate at which a company spends cash, used as the denominator when calculating runway.
The projected calendar date when cash will reach zero if current spending and revenue trends continue unchanged.
The rate at which monthly revenue is increasing, which can extend runway by reducing net burn over time.
Formulas Used
Divide available cash by your net monthly burn to get a basic runway estimate in months.
A dynamic model that projects runway by increasing revenue each month according to a growth rate, providing a more realistic timeline.
Three simple steps
Enter your cash position
Input your current cash balance, monthly expenses, and monthly revenue.
Calculate your runway
The calculator divides your cash by net monthly burn to determine months of runway remaining.
Plan your next steps
Review your runway timeline and see how changes in spending or revenue affect your deadline.
Built for founders like you
Post-funding planning
Understand exactly how long your latest round will last at current spend levels.
Scenario modeling
Compare runway under different hiring plans, marketing budgets, or revenue assumptions.
Board updates
Provide clear runway projections in monthly board reports and investor updates.
Why runway planning is critical
Runway is the number of months a startup can continue operating before running out of cash. It is calculated by dividing your current cash balance by your net monthly burn rate. This single number dictates your strategic timeline.
Running out of runway is the number one reason startups die. According to CB Insights, 38% of startups fail because they run out of cash or fail to raise new capital. Knowing your runway lets you plan fundraising, hiring, and growth investments on a realistic timeline.
Smart founders track runway weekly and model multiple scenarios — best case, base case, and worst case. This lets you make proactive decisions rather than reactive ones when cash gets tight.
Common questions
How is runway calculated?+
When should I start fundraising based on runway?+
How do I extend my runway without raising?+
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