Who This Helps
You're a founder operator. You have the numbers. But stakeholders want proof before they say yes. This is for you if you need to turn analysis into approved execution without the back-and-forth.
Mini Case
Meet Ben. Revenue is up 20% but cash is flat. He built a Runway Forecast card using the Founder Finance Basics Mission Pack. It showed he had 7 months of runway, not the 10 he guessed. Stakeholders saw the evidence and approved his hiring freeze in one meeting. No more guesswork.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Grab your last 3 months of cash flow.
- List your fixed costs and variable costs.
- Calculate your monthly burn rate. (Example: $50k fixed + $30k variable = $80k/month)
- Divide your cash balance by that number. (Example: $560k / $80k = 7 months)
- Share the one-page Runway Forecast card with your team.
Avoid These Traps
- Don't use average revenue when cash is lumpy. Use actual cash in bank.
- Don't forget one-time expenses like legal fees or equipment.
- Don't assume revenue growth fixes cash problems. It doesn't.
- Don't hide bad news. Stakeholders respect honesty.
- Don't overcomplicate the forecast. One page is enough.
- Don't skip the stress test. What if revenue drops 20%?
- Don't present without a clear ask. Say "I need approval to pause hiring."
- Don't wait until you're at 3 months of runway. Act at 6.
Your Win by Friday
By Friday, you'll have a Runway Forecast card that any stakeholder can understand in 60 seconds. You'll know exactly how many months you have. You'll make faster decisions with compact evidence. And you'll sleep better knowing your numbers are real.