If you’re raising a round, preparing a board update, or just trying to answer “how long do we have?” — this workbook gives you a defensible answer in minutes. $49, one-time purchase. No subscription. No macros.
What’s in the Workbook
Eight tabs, each with a specific job. You enter data across five input tabs; every output tab calculates automatically.
Instructions
Field reference, quick-start guide, and key formula explanations. Start here to understand how the model is structured before entering data.
Setup
Company name, starting cash balance, forecast start date, and forecast window (12, 24, 36, or 48 months). Select your scenario from the dropdown — Base, Optimistic, or Pessimistic — and the entire workbook shifts. Every input tab has separate Base/Optimistic/Pessimistic columns for each line item.
Dashboard
Six KPI cards calculated automatically from your inputs:
- Months of Runway — how many months until cash reaches zero
- Cash Zero Date — the calendar month when cash runs out (or “No cash-out” if projections stay positive)
- Monthly Burn Rate — average net cash outflow per month in the selected scenario
- Peak Cash — the highest cash balance reached in the forecast window
- Breakeven Month — the first month net cash flow is positive
- Total Capital Required — cumulative shortfall from current cash to survive the forecast window
Financing Tab
Up to 20 financing events — equity raises, debt draws, grants, or other cash inflows. Each row: name, amount, month of receipt, and frequency. Useful for modeling future fundraising rounds or debt facilities.
Revenue Tab
Up to 20 revenue streams. Each row: starting amount, annual growth rate, growth cap (optional monthly ceiling), frequency (monthly, quarterly, annual, one-time), and number of occurrences.
Fixed Expenses
Up to 20 fixed cost lines — payroll, rent, insurance, SaaS subscriptions. Amount, frequency, and occurrences. These don’t vary with revenue.
Variable Expenses
Up to 20 variable cost lines — hosting, COGS, commissions, customer success costs that scale with revenue.
CapEx
Up to 20 capital expenditure items — equipment purchases, leasehold improvements, large one-time investments. These show as discrete cash outflows in the forecast.
Cash Flow Projection
Month-by-month waterfall: opening cash + financing inflows + revenue − fixed costs − variable costs − CapEx = closing cash. Select this table in Excel to insert a native chart showing cash balance over time.
A Worked Example — 18-Month Runway
A Series A startup with $2.5M in the bank, $180k/month in fixed costs, $80k/month in current revenue growing at 40% annually.
Base case inputs:
- Starting cash: $2,500,000
- Monthly revenue (Month 1): $80,000 | Annual growth rate: 40%
- Fixed costs: $180,000/month
- Variable costs: $12,000/month
Dashboard output (Base):
- Months of Runway: 18
- Cash Zero Date: September 2027
- Monthly Burn Rate: $97,000 (net)
- Breakeven Month: Month 22
Switch the dropdown to Pessimistic (20% annual growth):
- Months of Runway: 14
- Cash Zero Date: May 2027
Switch to Optimistic (65% annual growth):
- Months of Runway: 24+ (cash-flow positive before end of window)
All three scenarios calculate instantly from a single dropdown change in Setup.
Who This Is For
- Founders preparing for a fundraise who need to show runway to investors
- Controllers and finance managers building the operating forecast
- CFOs managing cash through a lean period and modeling scenarios
- Any operator who needs to answer “how long is our runway?” without hiring a CFO
What It Is Not
This workbook models cash in and cash out — it is not a three-statement financial model. It doesn’t calculate GAAP revenue recognition, deferred revenue, or accrual-basis P&L. It answers one question well: how long does our cash last?
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Forecast window | 12, 24, 36, or 48 months (dropdown) |
| Input rows per tab | 20 (paid version) |
| Scenarios | Base, Optimistic, Pessimistic |
| Excel version | 2016, 365, Mac (no macros) |
| File format | .xlsx |
| Formula protection | Locked formula cells, unlocked input cells |
| Price | $49 one-time |
Get the Workbook
Not ready to buy? Try the free 12-month version — same structure, limited to 5 input rows per tab and a 12-month window. See how the dashboard and scenario logic work before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it handle variable payment schedules? Yes. Each revenue and expense line has a frequency dropdown (Monthly, Quarterly, Annual, One-Time) and an occurrences field. A quarterly expense only hits cash flow every 3 months; a one-time payment hits once and stops.
Can I model a future fundraise? Yes. Add a row to the Financing tab with the expected raise amount and the month you expect to receive it. The dashboard will immediately show your extended runway.
Does it work on a Mac? Yes. Pure Excel formulas — no VBA macros, no Windows-only features. Works on Excel 2016, Excel 365, and Excel for Mac.
What’s the difference between gross burn and net burn? The workbook shows net burn rate — total cash outflows minus total cash inflows per month. Gross burn is outflows only (before revenue). Both are visible in the cash flow projection table.
Can I add more than 20 input rows? Email hello@kdeskaccounting.com for a custom build.