Download
Cash flow forecast
- Twelve-month forecast
- Burn rate and runway
- Example figures to replace
Opens in Excel, Google Sheets and Apple Numbers.
Free tools · Cash and runway
Free cash flow forecast template, with a burn rate and runway calculator.
Excello's free cash flow forecast template is a 12-month Excel workbook that projects cash in, cash out and your closing balance, with burn rate and runway worked out for you.
Use the calculator below for a quick runway check, then download the template to plan month by month.
Free. No sign-up. Opens in Excel and Google Sheets.
- Template
- Horizon twelve months
- Burn and runway built in
- Format Excel
- Price free
Startup burn rate calculator: check your runway
Try it
A quick cash flow forecasting tool online: enter three figures and see gross burn, net burn and runway at once.
Download the free cash flow forecast template
The workbook
What is a cash flow forecast?
The basics
How to use the template in five steps
Enter the cash you have today
Put your current bank balance in the blue opening cash cell for Month 1.
List the cash you expect to receive
Customer receipts, other income, and any loans or investment, month by month.
List the cash you expect to pay out
Payroll, rent, software, marketing, taxes, loan repayments and other costs.
Read the closing cash line
A negative closing balance shows the month you would run out of cash without a change.
Update it every month
Replace the forecast for the month just ended with actual figures from your books, then roll forward.
The burn rate calculation formula, with a worked example
The arithmetic
Burn rate for startups comes in two forms, gross and net. The example uses $600,000 in the bank, $40,000 of cash in and $90,000 of cash out each month.
| Measure | Formula | Worked example |
|---|---|---|
| Gross burn | Total cash out in a month | $90,000 |
| Net burn | Cash out minus cash in | $90,000 − $40,000 = $50,000 |
| Runway | Cash in the bank ÷ net burn | $600,000 ÷ $50,000 = 12 months |
| Annual run rate | One month of revenue × 12 | $40,000 × 12 = $480,000 |
Burn rate vs runway
Speed and distance
Burn rate is how fast cash leaves each month. Runway is how many months the cash lasts at that speed. Cut the burn or raise cash, and the runway gets longer.
Burn rate vs run rate
Spending and sales
Burn rate tracks money going out. Run rate takes one month of revenue and projects it across a year. Investors often ask for both in the same conversation.
Cash flow forecasting tools and techniques
Methods
Five common techniques, and when each one earns its place.
| Technique | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Direct method | Lists expected receipts and payments line by line | Monthly and weekly planning; the method this template uses |
| Indirect method | Starts from profit and adjusts for non-cash items and working capital | Longer-range forecasts built from a financial model |
| 13-week rolling forecast | A weekly view of the next quarter, rolled forward every week | Tight cash, a raise in progress or a big payment coming |
| 12-month forecast | A monthly view of the year ahead | Budgets, hiring plans and runway |
| Scenarios | The same forecast under base, downside and upside assumptions | Board discussions and fundraising timing |
Cash flow forecasting software, or a spreadsheet?
Choosing
Forecasts start from current books
Where Excello fits
Frequently asked questions
What is a cash flow forecast?
A cash flow forecast is a projection of the cash a business expects to receive and pay out over the coming weeks or months. It shows the closing bank balance for each period, so shortfalls are visible before they happen.
How do you calculate burn rate?
Gross burn is the total cash a business spends in a month. Net burn is cash out minus cash in. A startup spending $90,000 and collecting $40,000 has a net burn of $50,000 a month.
What is the difference between burn rate and runway?
Burn rate is how fast cash is being used each month, while runway is how long the cash will last at that pace. Runway equals cash in the bank divided by net burn, so $600,000 at $50,000 a month is 12 months.
What is the difference between burn rate and run rate?
Burn rate measures cash going out each month. Run rate projects current revenue across a year, such as $40,000 of monthly revenue becoming a $480,000 annual run rate. One tracks spending and the other tracks sales.
How far ahead should a startup forecast cash?
Most startups keep a 12-month forecast for planning and hiring, and a 13-week weekly forecast when cash is tight or a raise is under way. Both work best when they are rolled forward every month with actual figures.
Is this cash flow forecast template free?
Yes. The Excel template is free to download and use, with no sign-up needed. It includes a 12-month forecast, a burn and runway section and a quick burn rate calculator, and it also opens in Google Sheets.