Runway, translated

Runway sounds like a plane waiting for clearance. In business, runway means the time a company can keep operating before its cash runs out at the current spending rate. 1

Cash balance divided by burn rate gives the rough number of months left. BDC defines burn rate as net cash outflow and says a longer spending period gives a steadier estimate. 1

In a meeting, "We have nine months of runway" sounds precise. The sentence still leaves two useful questions: Which cash balance? Which spending plan?

Try: "At current spending, cash covers operations through 31 May. Maya will send the cash forecast Friday." The sentence names the assumption, the date, the owner, and the artifact. The airport metaphor can wait at the gate.