Break-Even & Cash Flow Calculators

Five calculators and the operational guides that go with them. These tools answer the most pressing operational questions in early-stage business: how many units must you sell to cover costs, when does cash run out, and which months will be tight.

Profitable businesses go bust every day — almost always because of timing, not profit. The customer paid in 60 days; rent was due tomorrow. Cash flow management is what separates businesses that survive their first 24 months from those that don't.

Start with the Break-Even Calculator if you're validating a new product or pricing decision. Use the Cash Flow Calculator monthly to project 12 months ahead — most cash crises are visible 3–6 months out if you bother to look. The Burn Rate Calculator is specifically for startups burning investor capital; it tells you exactly how many months until cash exhaustion.

Pair the calculation with the guide. The break-even examples article walks through five real industries; the cash flow management guide gives you the seven habits that prevent a crunch.