Who This Helps
You're a founder operator who needs to make faster decisions with compact evidence. The Founder Finance Basics Mission Pack is built for you. It turns messy numbers into clear actions.
Mini Case
Meet Ben. Revenue is up 12% this quarter, but cash is flat. He's confused. Should he hire? Should he cut spend? He runs the Runway Forecast mission from the Founder Finance Basics Mission Pack. In 7 days, he builds a one-page runway card. Now he sees: at current burn, he has 6 months of runway. He decides to delay hiring by 3 months and extend runway to 9 months. Decision made, stress down.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Pull your last 3 bank statements. List all cash outflows. Don't guess—use real numbers.
- Calculate your monthly burn rate. Add up all expenses. Subtract any revenue. That's your burn.
- Divide your cash balance by burn rate. This gives your runway in months. Example: $120k cash / $20k burn = 6 months.
- Add a buffer. Multiply your runway by 1.5. That's your safe zone. If you have 6 months, plan for 9.
- Write a one-sentence decision. Example: "I will not hire until runway exceeds 9 months." Stick to it.
Avoid These Traps
- Using optimistic revenue projections. Use last month's actual revenue, not next quarter's hope.
- Forgetting one-time expenses. Did you just buy a new laptop? Include it. It counts.
- Ignoring seasonal dips. If you sell less in December, adjust your burn for that month.
- Assuming you can always raise money. Runway is your safety net. Treat it like one.
- Making it complex. A simple spreadsheet with 3 rows is better than a fancy model you never update.
Your Win by Friday
By Friday, you'll have a one-page runway forecast card. You'll know exactly how many months of cash you have. You'll make one clear decision—hire, cut, or wait. No more guessing. No more stress. Just calm founder decisions.
And hey, you might even sleep better knowing your numbers are real.