Runway Calculator

Runway below 12 months is risky. Runway above 18 months is generally more stable for planning.

Runway benchmark: less than 12 months is risky for most startups; 18+ months is generally more stable if growth assumptions are realistic.

How this calculator works

This runway calculator is designed for SaaS, subscription, and recurring-revenue businesses. Enter your current operating numbers to get a fast directional result.

Runway = cash balance ÷ monthly net burn

Keep the reporting period consistent. Monthly metrics should use monthly revenue, monthly churn, and monthly acquisition counts.

How to use it

Use clean finance or analytics data from the same period.
Exclude one-time revenue when calculating recurring revenue metrics.
Compare the result against prior months to see trend direction, not just one snapshot.

Result interpretation

Runway below 12 months is often a warning zone. Eighteen months or more is usually more comfortable because fundraising, hiring, and revenue plans rarely move perfectly on schedule.

Runway risk benchmark

Out of cash estimate: use runway months to estimate the out-of-cash date. Under 12 months is risky, 12–18 months is a planning window, and 18+ months is generally more comfortable.

FAQ

What is startup runway?

Runway is how many months a company can operate before cash reaches zero.

Why include growth rates?

Revenue and expenses often change monthly, so growth assumptions can materially change runway.

How should I use this result?

Use it as a quick operating metric, then compare it with cohort trends, cash flow, pricing changes, and acquisition channel quality.

Is this calculator exact accounting?

No. It is a planning calculator. Use consistent definitions from your finance reports when making board or investor decisions.