Runway

What is Runway?

Runway indicates how much time a business has before its available cash reserves are depleted, given the current level of spending. It is commonly expressed in months and is critical for planning fundraising cycles, budgeting, and growth strategies.

How to Calculate Runway

To figure out Runway, follow these steps:

  • Identify available cash –
  • Look at how much liquid money the company has on hand (bank accounts, cash equivalents).

  • Work out monthly spending –
  • Determine the average amount spent each month to keep operations running.

  • Perform the division –
  • Divide the available cash by the monthly spend figure.

  • Translate into months –
  • The result represents the number of months the company can continue at the current pace.

Formula

Runway = Cash Available / Burn Rate

Benchmark

A common target is to maintain 12 to 18 months of Runway. This buffer ensures enough time to raise funds, change strategy, or scale efficiently.

Ready to Track Your Runway with Real-Time Insights? Talk to Us!

Use DiGGrowth’s Financial KPI Dashboard to visualize your burn rate, cash flow, and runway in one place. Just write to us at info@diggrowth.com — we’ll get back to you promptly.

FAQ's

As it signals how urgently the business must secure new income or funding. Without monitoring, a company may run out of resources unexpectedly.

Runway is mainly impacted by burn rate (monthly spending). Cutting expenses or increasing revenue directly extends the number of months available.

No. A high-growth startup may need a longer Runway to support product development and fundraising, while a profitable company may be less dependent on it.

By slowing down hiring, renegotiating contracts, improving cash collection from customers, or bringing in outside investment.