Comparison
RunwayWatch vs a spreadsheet
Live burn-rate tracking and runway projection so you always know how many months you have left.
Runway is usually a single cell in a board deck, recalculated by hand once a month. Between updates, the number everyone is steering by is already out of date.
Where the spreadsheet breaks down
- Runway is a number someone recalculates by hand once a month.
- Burn creeps up and nobody notices until the board asks.
- Hiring and spend decisions happen without a clear runway impact.
| Spreadsheet | RunwayWatch | |
|---|---|---|
| Runway figure | Recalculated manually each month | Updates as the ledger moves |
| Burn rate | A trailing average someone maintains | Tracked continuously, gross and net |
| Spike detection | Noticed when the board asks | Flagged the month burn starts climbing |
| Scenario | A second tab you rebuild | Adjust assumptions and see runway shift |
| Confidence | As current as the last manual update | Always reflects the live books |
What you get with RunwayWatch
- A current runway figure that updates as the books do.
- Burn-rate trends that flag the month spend started climbing.
- Confidence to time a raise or a cut before it is forced.
A worked example
At $250k cash and a $42k monthly net burn, you have about six months of runway — but if burn quietly creeps to $55k, that drops below five months a full period before a monthly spreadsheet would catch it. That month is the difference between timing a raise and being forced into one.
Questions
- Is RunwayWatch better than a spreadsheet?
- A spreadsheet is flexible, but it has to be rebuilt every period and breaks easily. RunwayWatch connects to QuickBooks Online and stays current automatically, which removes the manual rebuild and the formula risk.
- Can I keep using my spreadsheet too?
- Yes. Many teams start with RunwayWatch for the live view and keep a spreadsheet for one-off analysis. RunwayWatch reads from QuickBooks and does not change your books.
- How fast can I switch?
- Connect QuickBooks Online and RunwayWatch produces results in minutes, so there is no long migration off your spreadsheet.
- How is runway calculated?
- From your live QuickBooks cash position and net burn, so the figure reflects the current books rather than last month's snapshot.
- Can I model a hire or a spend cut?
- Yes — adjust the assumptions and RunwayWatch shows how runway shifts, so you can see the impact of a decision before you make it.
- Does it work alongside FlowCast or a forecast?
- RunwayWatch answers 'how many months do I have' from the live ledger; a full 13-week forecast answers 'what does each week look like.' They complement each other.
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