Home > Glossary > Burn rate

Burn Rate

Burn rate refers to the rate at which a company or startup spends its cash reserves to cover operating expenses before generating positive cash flow from operations. It is typically expressed in terms of cash spent per month. Burn rate is a critical metric for companies, especially startups, as it indicates how long the company can sustain its operations before needing additional financing or achieving profitability.

Example

A startup with $1 million in cash reserves and a monthly burn rate of $100,000 has 10 months of runway before it needs to raise additional funds or start generating sufficient revenue.

Key points

• Burn rate is the rate at which a company uses its cash reserves to cover expenses.

• Typically measured on a monthly basis.

• Critical for startups to monitor to ensure they have enough runway to reach profitability or secure additional funding.

Quick Answers to Curious Questions

It helps startups understand how long they can operate before needing additional funding or generating positive cash flow, ensuring they manage their resources effectively.

A high burn rate suggests that a company is spending cash quickly, which can be risky if it doesn’t secure additional funding or increase revenues.

A company can reduce its burn rate by cutting unnecessary expenses, improving operational efficiency, or increasing revenue streams.