Startup Costs & Runway Calculator
Enter your one-off costs, monthly burn, initial funding, and revenue projections to see your total capital needed, break-even month, cash runway, and a 12-month P&L table.
Section A — One-Off Startup Costs
Costs you pay once at launch
Section B — Monthly Running Costs
Your monthly burn rate (recurring outgoings)
Section C — Revenue & Funding
Revenue projections and available cash
Your first-month revenue estimate
Expected % increase in revenue each month
Total capital you have to deploy (savings, loans, investment)
One-off launch costs
£6,512
Monthly burn rate
£4,450
Cash positive from
Month 1
12-Month P&L Projection
Starting cash after one-off costs: £23,488
| Month | Revenue | Costs | Net | Cash balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | £0.00 | £4,450.00 | £-4,450.00 | £19,038.00✓ |
| Feb | £0.00 | £4,450.00 | £-4,450.00 | £14,588.00 |
| Mar | £0.00 | £4,450.00 | £-4,450.00 | £10,138.00 |
| Apr | £0.00 | £4,450.00 | £-4,450.00 | £5,688.00 |
| May | £0.00 | £4,450.00 | £-4,450.00 | £1,238.00 |
| Jun | £0.00 | £4,450.00 | £-4,450.00 | £-3,212.00 |
| Jul | £0.00 | £4,450.00 | £-4,450.00 | £-7,662.00 |
| Aug | £0.00 | £4,450.00 | £-4,450.00 | £-12,112.00 |
| Sep | £0.00 | £4,450.00 | £-4,450.00 | £-16,562.00 |
| Oct | £0.00 | £4,450.00 | £-4,450.00 | £-21,012.00 |
| Nov | £0.00 | £4,450.00 | £-4,450.00 | £-25,462.00 |
| Dec | £0.00 | £4,450.00 | £-4,450.00 | £-29,912.00 |
5 Cash Runway Planning Tips
- Budget 20% contingency: Every startup costs more and takes longer than planned. Add a 20% buffer to every cost before finalising your funding requirement.
- Target 12–18 months runway: Investors typically want to see 12–18 months of runway post-funding to give the team time to hit milestones before the next raise.
- Track burn weekly: Use a simple spreadsheet or your accounting software to compare actual spend vs. budget each week — burn can accelerate quickly without visibility.
- Employer NIC rises from April 2025: Employer NIC increases to 15% (up from 13.8%) with the secondary threshold dropping to £5,000. Update your payroll cost estimates accordingly.
- Start Up Loans: The government-backed scheme offers up to £25,000 at a fixed 6% rate with free mentoring. Read our guide.
One-Off vs. Recurring Costs
All startup costs fall into two buckets. One-off costs — company formation, website build, equipment, legal fees — happen once at launch. Recurring costs (your monthly burn rate) include payroll, rent, software subscriptions, and marketing. Your initial funding must cover both plus a safety buffer.
What Is Cash Runway?
Runway is simply Cash ÷ Monthly Burn Rate. A startup with £60,000 in the bank and a £10,000/month burn rate has 6 months of runway — before any revenue. Most early-stage investors look for at least 12 months of runway post-investment. This calculator projects runway both without revenue and with your expected revenue growth rate.
Break-Even Analysis
Monthly break-even is reached when your monthly revenue covers your monthly costs. Cumulative break-even is when total revenue to date covers total costs to date. Both metrics are shown in the 12-month P&L table below.
UK Startup Loans
If you need additional funding, the government-backed Start Up Loans scheme offers personal loans of £500–£25,000 at a fixed 6% rate with free mentoring. SEIS-eligible limited companies can also attract angel investors who receive 50% income tax relief on investments up to £200,000 per year.