A lean budget template designed for seed to Series A startups. Focuses on burn rate, runway, and the key cost categories that matter in early-stage companies — headcount, cloud infrastructure, and go-to-market spend. Includes fundraising scenario modelling.
What's included
Template preview
Step by step
Input your current bank balance, including any recently raised funding. This is the starting point for your runway calculation.
Enter planned monthly spend across people, cloud infrastructure, office, marketing, and other categories. Be realistic — startups consistently underestimate costs.
Enter your expected monthly revenue growth. The template calculates net burn (spend minus revenue) and updates runway automatically.
Model different funding scenarios — timing, amount, and dilution. See how each scenario extends your runway and affects cash position.
Update actual spend and revenue weekly. If runway drops below 6 months, it is time to either cut costs or start fundraising.
Watch out
Assuming revenue will ramp faster than it actually does — be conservative
Forgetting to include employer taxes, benefits, and recruitment fees in headcount costs
Not leaving enough runway buffer before starting a fundraise (allow 6-9 months)
Spreading marketing budget evenly instead of front-loading to build pipeline
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Import this template directly into Grove FP and start planning. No credit card required.
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