Tools in This Collection
Startup Runway Calculator
Calculate how many months of operating expenses your current cash covers at your burn rate
Business Valuation Calculator
Estimate small business value using SDE multiples, revenue multiples, and DCF methods
Employee True Cost Calculator
Calculate the full cost of an employee including FICA, benefits, PTO, and workspace overhead
Profit Sharing Plan Calculator
Calculate profit-sharing contributions using pro-rata, new comparability, or integrated formulas
50/30/20 Budget Calculator
Allocate take-home income into needs, wants, and savings using the 50/30/20 framework
PTO Accrual Calculator
Calculate PTO accrual, vacation balance, and payout value on termination
52-Week Savings Challenge
Create a personalized weekly savings plan with classic, reverse, or fixed amount schedules
India EMI Calculator
Calculate EMI, total interest, and amortization schedule for Indian loans and mortgages
Guides & Articles
Business Finance and Planning Workflow
Sound business financial planning requires understanding three time horizons: current cash position (runway), near-term operational costs (employee and overhead), and longer-term valuation and equity planning. This cluster of tools covers all three.
Startup Cash Management: Know Your Runway
Every startup founder should know their runway — the number of months the company can operate before it needs additional funding or reaches profitability. The Startup Runway Calculator divides current cash by monthly net burn rate. But the more useful insight comes from stress-testing: what if revenue takes 3 months longer than planned? What burn reduction scenarios keep the company alive through a funding delay?
The default alive vs default dead framework is critical here. If the company grows at current rates and makes no changes, does it reach profitability before cash runs out? This is the most important question for any pre-revenue or early-revenue company.
True Cost of Employees
The single biggest budgeting error in small business planning is underestimating labor costs. A $70,000 salary employee actually costs $88,000-$98,000 in cash (FICA taxes, health insurance, 401k match, PTO as a cash equivalent, equipment). The Employee True Cost Calculator builds this bottom-up from your actual benefits package and shows total cash cost to compare against contractor alternatives.
Business Valuation for Fundraising and Exit
When approaching investors or contemplating a sale, you need a credible valuation. Small business valuations typically use seller's discretionary earnings (SDE) multiples for owner-operated businesses or EBITDA multiples for larger companies. The Business Valuation Calculator applies current market multiples across three methods and shows a valuation range that reflects market conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a healthy startup runway?
18-24 months of runway is generally considered healthy for a venture-backed startup. It provides enough time to hit meaningful milestones before needing to raise again. Below 12 months triggers urgent action — either aggressive burn reduction or fundraising. Many investors won't engage seriously with a company that has under 6 months of runway.
How much does an employee actually cost vs their salary?
Total employment cost typically runs 1.25x-1.4x base salary. Employer-side FICA adds 7.65%, health insurance typically $4,000-$12,000/year per employee, 401k match (if offered) is 3-6% of salary, and PTO has real cash value when employees use paid leave. The Employee True Cost Calculator breaks down all components for your specific benefits structure.
What multiple should I expect on a small business sale?
SDE (Seller's Discretionary Earnings) multiples for small businesses typically range from 2-3x for lifestyle businesses under $500K SDE, up to 4-6x for well-run businesses with systems and documented processes. Higher multiples require demonstrable recurring revenue, customer diversification, and owner-independent operations.
When should a startup use the 50/30/20 budget rule?
The 50/30/20 rule is most applicable for managing personal income from a business (paying yourself a salary) or for bootstrapped businesses where the founder is the primary resource. It's less relevant for VC-backed startups with a separate operating budget. The Business Finance Planning tools here cover both personal income allocation and business operational planning.
How do I calculate my company's burn rate?
Gross burn rate = total monthly expenses. Net burn rate = monthly expenses minus monthly revenue. If you spend $80,000/month and earn $30,000/month, your net burn rate is $50,000. With $600,000 in the bank, that's 12 months of runway. The Startup Runway Calculator tracks all this and shows both runway scenarios.