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Startup runway and cash burn calculator
Calculate how many months of cash runway your startup has left, your monthly net burn rate, and the impact of revenue growth on your runway before needing to raise or reach breakeven.
Reaches profitability in month 18
First 12 Months Projection
| Month | Revenue | Expenses | Net Burn | Remaining Cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | CHF 6,000 | CHF 22,000 | CHF 16,000 | CHF 164,000 |
| M2 | CHF 6,480 | CHF 22,000 | CHF 15,520 | CHF 148,480 |
| M3 | CHF 6,998 | CHF 22,000 | CHF 15,002 | CHF 133,478 |
| M4 | CHF 7,558 | CHF 22,000 | CHF 14,442 | CHF 119,037 |
| M5 | CHF 8,163 | CHF 22,000 | CHF 13,837 | CHF 105,200 |
| M6 | CHF 8,816 | CHF 22,000 | CHF 13,184 | CHF 92,016 |
| M7 | CHF 9,521 | CHF 22,000 | CHF 12,479 | CHF 79,537 |
| M8 | CHF 10,283 | CHF 22,000 | CHF 11,717 | CHF 67,820 |
| M9 | CHF 11,106 | CHF 22,000 | CHF 10,894 | CHF 56,925 |
| M10 | CHF 11,994 | CHF 22,000 | CHF 10,006 | CHF 46,919 |
| M11 | CHF 12,954 | CHF 22,000 | CHF 9,046 | CHF 37,873 |
| M12 | CHF 13,990 | CHF 22,000 | CHF 8,010 | CHF 29,863 |
How startup runway and burn rate work
Gross burn is the total money your startup spends each month on salaries, software, office, and operations. Net burn is the actual cash lost each month after accounting for revenue: Net Burn = Monthly Expenses − Monthly Revenue.
Basic runway divides your current cash reserves by your net burn. If you have CHF 150,000 in the bank and lose CHF 15,000 a month, you have 10 months of runway.
Dynamic runway models month-by-month revenue growth. If revenue increases while expenses stay flat, your net burn shrinks over time, extending your runway and potentially bringing your company to profitability without extra funding.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between gross burn and net burn?
Gross burn is total monthly cash spent. Net burn is gross burn minus incoming cash from revenue. If you spend CHF 20,000 and bring in CHF 5,000, your gross burn is CHF 20,000 and your net burn is CHF 15,000.
How much runway should an early-stage startup have?
Most founders and venture advisors recommend maintaining at least 12 to 18 months of runway. Fundraising typically takes 3 to 6 months, so starting conversations with less than 6 months of runway puts the company under high pressure.
What happens when revenue exceeds expenses?
When revenue exceeds monthly expenses, net burn becomes negative (net profit or positive cash flow). At that point, the startup is cash-flow positive or "default alive", with indefinite runway.
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