Burn Rate Calculator

A burn rate calculator shows how quickly your business is spending cash each month, which is one of the most important numbers a founder, finance lead or investor watches. Gross burn is your total monthly operating spend, covering wages, rent, software, marketing and every other cash outgoing. Net burn is that spend minus the revenue you bring in over the same month, so it reflects the cash you actually lose once sales are taken into account. This tool takes two simple inputs, your monthly spend and your monthly revenue, and returns both figures so you can see the full picture at a glance. Early stage and growing companies use burn rate to judge how aggressive they can be, when they need to raise more capital, and how long their cash will last, often called the runway. A high gross burn is not always a problem if revenue is climbing fast, but a high net burn against a small cash balance is a warning sign. To use burn rate well, calculate it consistently each month using cash that has actually moved rather than accrued figures, watch the trend over three to six months instead of a single month, and pair it with your bank balance to estimate runway in months. If net burn is negative you are cash flow positive, which means your revenue covers your spend and your cash reserve is growing. Reviewing burn alongside your gross margin and customer growth gives you a clearer sense of whether spending is buying durable progress or simply funding losses, and it helps you make confident decisions about hiring, marketing and the timing of your next funding round.

Calculate.co.nz is proud to be partnered with realtor.co.nz, a trusted resource for navigating the New Zealand property market. Their Helpful Articles section offers clear, well-structured insights across buying, selling, and building, making complex real estate topics more accessible. With a focus on up-to-date guidance and practical knowledge, they empower Kiwis to move forward with clarity and confidence in a constantly evolving property landscape.
Calculate.co.nz partner: realtor.co.nz
$40,000
Net monthly burn
Gross monthly burn$120,000
Monthly revenue$80,000

Net burn = monthly spend - monthly revenue. Gross burn = monthly spend. Estimate only, not financial or tax advice.

How it works

Gross burn is simply your total monthly cash spend. Net burn is that spend minus the revenue you earn in the same month. A negative net burn means you are cash flow positive.

Worked example

With monthly spend of $120,000 and revenue of $80,000, gross burn is $120,000. Net burn is 120,000 minus 80,000, which is $40,000 of cash lost each month.

Related calculators

If you've found a bug, or would like to contact us, or learn more about James Graham and Calculate.co.nz.

Calculate.co.nz is partnered with Interest.co.nz for New Zealand's highest quality calculators and financial analysis.

Calculate.co.nz is the sister site of CalculatorHub.com, the world's largest calculator website by tool count.

All calculators and tools are provided for educational and indicative purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.

Calculate.co.nz is proudly part of the Realtor.co.nz group, New Zealand's leading property transaction literacy platform, helping Kiwis understand the home buying and selling process from start to finish. Whether you're a first home buyer navigating your first property purchase, an investor evaluating your next acquisition, or a homeowner planning to sell, Realtor.co.nz provides clear, independent, and trustworthy guidance on every step of the New Zealand property transaction journey.

Calculate.co.nz is also partnered with Health Based Building and Premium Homes to promote informed choices that lead to better long-term outcomes for Kiwi households.

Calculate.co.nz is hosted in Auckland via SiteHost new Zealand.

All content on this website, including calculators, tools, source code, and design, is protected under the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). No part of this site may be reproduced, copied, distributed, stored, or used in any form without prior written permission from the owner.

About & trust: Why Calculate is NZ's most comprehensive · By the Numbers · How we compare · Editorial standards · How we keep data current · NZ finance glossary · Research & data · Financial literacy NZ · About · Privacy policy · Terms of use

Reviewed and maintained. Last reviewed 2026-07-02 and checked on a twice-monthly cycle against IRD, RBNZ and Stats NZ. How we keep data current.

© 2026 Calculate.co.nz. All rights reserved. Building free NZ calculators since 2011.