Free cash runway calculator

Burn Rate Calculator

Estimate gross burn, net burn, and cash runway from the cash figures you enter, then compare positive net burn with an optional runway target you choose.

The direct formulas

Separate cash paid out from cash received.

Gross burn is average monthly cash paid out. Net burn is monthly cash paid out minus monthly cash received. When net burn is positive, runway is available cash divided by net burn.

When cash received meets or exceeds cash paid out, the entered pace does not produce a current depletion estimate. The result does not establish profitability.

Browser-local cash planning

Use one representative month and your own records.

Enter current available cash and average monthly operating cash movement. The calculator uses only those entries and does not fetch, save, or send your figures.

Monthly cash inputs

Required fields start blank. Zero is valid. Use USD and the same representative monthly basis throughout.

Exclude restricted cash, receivables, undrawn credit, and financing not received.
Use representative recurring operating cash actually received; exclude fundraising, loans, asset sales, and one-time financing.
Use cash actually paid in the same representative month; include recurring commitments and exclude noncash accounting expenses.
Optional. Choose your own scenario; no target is assumed.

Calculated result

Enter valid inputs to calculate the scenario.

Results stay in this page until you reset, edit an input, or leave. The calculator does not fetch, save, or send input values.

Transparent methodology

Exact cents, one monthly basis, visible limits.

Money is calculated as exact cents. Runway stays an exact fraction until display and then rounds half up to one decimal month. The maximum target burn is rounded down to cents so it does not overstate what the entered cash can support.

Enter available cash

Use cash available for operations now.

Enter monthly cash movement

Use representative operating cash received and paid out for the same month.

Calculate burn and runway

Compare positive net burn with available cash using the visible formulas.

Check an optional target

Compare positive net burn with a whole-month target you choose.

Worked example

One cash scenario, shown directly.

Illustrative inputs only: $600,000.00 available cash, $80,000.00 received per month, and $140,000.00 paid out per month produce $140,000.00 gross burn, $60,000.00 net burn, and 10.0 months of estimated runway.

For an 18-month target, the maximum net burn is $33,333.33 per month. The monthly improvement needed is $26,666.67, which could come from more cash received, less cash paid out, or both.

Before relying on it

Check the cash definitions against current records.

Available cash is usable now

Exclude restricted cash, receivables, undrawn credit, and financing not received.

Cash received is representative

Exclude fundraising, loans, asset sales, and other one-time financing.

Cash paid out uses the same month

Include recurring commitments and exclude noncash accounting expenses.

Definitions and limits

A point-in-time estimate is not a cash-flow forecast.

This straight-line estimate assumes the monthly amounts stay constant. It does not model timing within a month, seasonality, growth, taxes, debt maturities, fundraising, one-time costs, restricted cash, or a minimum cash reserve.

Burn-rate definitions can differ. This tool uses the stated cash method consistently. It is not accounting, tax, legal, investment, financial, or fundraising advice. Verify decisions against your records and qualified advisers.

Direct answers

Answers to common burn-rate questions.

How do I calculate burn rate and cash runway?

Foundable's Burn Rate Calculator uses your current cash balance, monthly operating cash outflows, and monthly cash received. Gross burn is monthly operating cash outflows. Net burn is monthly cash outflows minus monthly cash received. When net burn is positive, cash runway is current cash divided by net burn; when it is zero or negative, the current inputs do not produce a finite depletion estimate. It is a point-in-time planning estimate, not a cash-flow forecast, accounting result, or financing recommendation.

What is the difference between gross burn and net burn?

Gross burn here is average monthly cash paid out. Net burn is monthly cash paid out minus monthly cash received, with no negative burn displayed.

Is cash runway a forecast?

No. This straight-line estimate assumes the entered monthly amounts stay constant and omits timing, seasonality, financing, and one-time changes.

Related next steps

Keep costs, acquisition, and pricing assumptions separate.

Use each calculator for one narrow question, then review the underlying records together before making a commitment.

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