Cash flow runway calculator
The most useful number a worried director can know is the runway: how many weeks the company can keep paying its bills before the cash runs out. It cuts through the noise of a difficult set of accounts and tells you how urgent things really are. To work it out, take the cash you can actually access today, add any reliable money coming in over the period, and subtract what you have to pay out. If your weekly outgoings are higher than your weekly income, the gap is your weekly burn, and your cash divided by that burn is your runway in weeks. A runway under about six weeks is a clear signal to act immediately, because the best rescue and restructuring options need time to arrange. This tool gives you the figure in seconds so you can plan, not panic.
Your runway
Indicative. Runway = cash available ÷ weekly net burn. Assumes income and outgoings stay steady.
Common questions
What is a cash flow runway?
Your runway is how long the company can keep paying its bills before it runs out of cash, at the current rate of spending. It is the single most useful early-warning number for a director, because options narrow as the runway shortens.
My runway is short, what should I do?
Act now while options are widest. Tighten credit control, talk to HMRC early about Time to Pay, and if the gap is structural rather than temporary, take advice from a practitioner before creditors escalate.
Speak to a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner
Tell us briefly what is happening and we will arrange a free, confidential, no obligation call with a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner. The earlier you get advice, the more options you usually have.
Free, confidential and no obligation. We are an independent information service and introduce directors to a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner. This is general information, not regulated advice.