You need to present burn rate.
Investors and advisors need clarity.
You need board-ready reports.
You need professional communication.
Board-ready reports. Burn rate presentation. Runway communication. Your credibility.
This guide shows you how.
Report structure. Clear metrics. Professional presentation. Your success.
Read this. Build reports. Present confidently.
Key Takeaways
- Calculate accurate metrics—use Burn Rate and Cash Runway Calculators to ensure numbers are correct
- Show trends—present burn rate and runway trends over time to show trajectory
- Provide context—explain burn rate in context of growth, unit economics, and market opportunity
- Include projections—show projected burn rate and runway based on current plans
- Be transparent—address concerns proactively, explain variances, and show improvement plans
Table of Contents
Why Presentation Matters
Presentation builds confidence.
What happens without good presentation:
- Metrics are misunderstood
- Confidence is not built
- Funding is not secured
- Relationships are damaged
What happens with good presentation:
- Metrics are clear
- Confidence is built
- Funding is secured
- Relationships are strengthened
The reality: Presentation enables success.
Calculating Accurate Metrics
Calculate accurate metrics:
Burn Rate Calculation
Calculate it:
- Use our Burn Rate Calculator
- Enter accurate cash and expenses
- Calculate gross and net burn
- Ensure accuracy
Why it matters: Accuracy builds credibility.
Runway Calculation
Calculate it:
- Use our Cash Runway Calculator
- Enter current cash and burn rate
- Calculate months remaining
- Show time horizon
Why it matters: Runway shows survival time.
Growth-Adjusted Burn
Calculate it:
- Use our Growth-Adjusted Burn Rate Calculator
- Show burn in context of growth
- Demonstrate efficiency
- Provide context
Why it matters: Growth-adjusted burn shows efficiency.
Pro tip: Calculate accurate metrics. Use our calculators for accurate data. See our burn rate guide for comprehensive understanding.
Showing Trends
Show trends over time:
Burn Rate Trends
What trends to show:
- Monthly burn rate over time
- Gross vs. net burn trends
- Growth-adjusted burn trends
- Improvement trajectory
Why it matters: Trends show progress.
Runway Trends
What trends to show:
- Runway over time
- Runway extension or reduction
- Projected runway
- Runway milestones
Why it matters: Runway trends show survival trajectory.
Growth Trends
What trends to show:
- Revenue growth
- Customer growth
- Market growth
- Growth efficiency
Why it matters: Growth trends provide context.
Pro tip: Show trends. Burn rate trends, runway trends, growth trends. Trends show progress and trajectory.
Providing Context
Provide context for burn rate:
Growth Context
What context to provide:
- Burn rate relative to growth
- Growth-adjusted burn rate
- Unit economics
- Growth efficiency
Why it matters: Growth context justifies burn.
Market Context
What context to provide:
- Market opportunity size
- Competitive landscape
- Market timing
- Market growth
Why it matters: Market context justifies investment.
Stage Context
What context to provide:
- Business stage
- Typical burn for stage
- Industry benchmarks
- Growth expectations
Why it matters: Stage context sets expectations.
Pro tip: Provide context. Growth context, market context, stage context. Context enables understanding. See our growth-adjusted burn guide for evaluation.
Including Projections
Include projections:
Projected Burn Rate
What projections to include:
- Next quarter burn rate
- Next year burn rate
- Scenarios (best, base, worst)
- Assumptions
Why it matters: Projections show planning.
Projected Runway
What projections to include:
- Runway based on current burn
- Runway with planned reductions
- Runway with funding
- Runway scenarios
Why it matters: Runway projections show survival planning.
Funding Needs
What needs to include:
- When funding is needed
- How much funding is needed
- Use of funds
- Milestones to hit
Why it matters: Funding needs show planning.
Pro tip: Include projections. Projected burn rate, projected runway, funding needs. Projections show forward thinking.
Being Transparent
Be transparent about concerns:
Address Concerns Proactively
What concerns to address:
- High burn rate
- Short runway
- Negative trends
- Red flags
Why it matters: Proactive addressing builds trust.
Explain Variances
What variances to explain:
- Actual vs. budgeted burn
- Changes in burn rate
- Runway changes
- Growth changes
Why it matters: Explanation provides understanding.
Show Improvement Plans
What plans to show:
- Burn reduction plans
- Runway extension plans
- Growth improvement plans
- Efficiency improvements
Why it matters: Plans show proactivity.
Pro tip: Be transparent. Address concerns, explain variances, show plans. Transparency builds trust. See our investor-ready financials guide for presentation.
Your Next Steps
Calculate metrics. Build reports. Present confidently.
This Week:
- Review this guide
- Calculate all key metrics
- Build initial report structure
- Prepare presentation
This Month:
- Refine report format
- Add trends and context
- Include projections
- Practice presentation
Going Forward:
- Update reports regularly
- Maintain transparency
- Build stakeholder confidence
- Improve continuously
Need help? Check out our Burn Rate Calculator for burn rate calculation, our Cash Runway Calculator for runway calculation, our Growth-Adjusted Burn Rate Calculator for growth-adjusted calculation, our burn rate guide for comprehensive understanding, and our investor-ready financials guide for presentation.
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FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions About Board-Ready Burn Reports: How to Present Your Runway to Investors and Advisors
What three calculators should I use to build accurate board-ready burn reports?
Use the Burn Rate Calculator, Cash Runway Calculator, and Growth-Adjusted Burn Rate Calculator to ensure your numbers are correct before presenting.
Learn More...
The Burn Rate Calculator helps you compute both gross and net burn by entering accurate cash and expense figures.
The Cash Runway Calculator shows months of runway remaining by combining current cash with your burn rate.
The Growth-Adjusted Burn Rate Calculator puts burn in the context of revenue growth, demonstrating efficiency to investors.
What burn rate and runway trends should I include in an investor presentation?
Show monthly burn rate over time, gross vs. net burn trends, runway extension or reduction, and growth efficiency metrics.
Learn More...
Present monthly burn rate trends to show whether spending is increasing or decreasing over time.
Include gross vs. net burn trends so investors can see how revenue offsets expenses.
Display runway milestones and projected runway to show survival trajectory and forward planning.
How do I provide context that justifies a high burn rate to investors?
Frame burn rate relative to growth metrics, unit economics, market opportunity size, and your business stage to show that spending is strategic.
Learn More...
Growth context shows burn relative to revenue growth and growth-adjusted burn rate, demonstrating efficient capital deployment.
Market context highlights the size of the opportunity, competitive landscape, and timing to justify the investment level.
Stage context compares your burn to industry benchmarks for your stage, setting realistic expectations for investors.
What projections should a board-ready burn report include?
Include projected burn rate for the next quarter and year, best/base/worst scenarios, projected runway with and without funding, and specific funding needs.
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Show next quarter and next year burn rate projections with clear assumptions so investors can evaluate your planning.
Present runway scenarios showing runway at current burn, with planned reductions, and with expected funding.
Detail when funding is needed, how much is needed, planned use of funds, and the milestones you'll hit with the capital.
How should I address red flags like a short runway or negative burn trends in a board report?
Be transparent by proactively acknowledging concerns, explaining variances from budget, and presenting concrete improvement plans.
Learn More...
Address high burn rate or short runway directly rather than waiting for investors to raise concerns—proactive disclosure builds trust.
Explain actual vs. budgeted burn variances and any changes in runway, providing clear reasons for deviations.
Present specific burn reduction plans, runway extension strategies, and efficiency improvements you're implementing.
What is the recommended timeline for building and maintaining investor burn reports?
Calculate key metrics and build a report structure this week, refine with trends, context, and projections this month, then update regularly going forward.
Learn More...
Start by calculating accurate burn rate, runway, and growth-adjusted metrics using the available calculators.
This month, add historical trends, market and stage context, forward projections, and practice your presentation delivery.
Going forward, update reports regularly before each board meeting, maintain transparency, and continuously improve the format based on stakeholder feedback.
Sources & Additional Information
This guide provides general information about board-ready burn reports. Your specific situation may require different considerations.
For burn rate calculation, see our Burn Rate Calculator.
For cash runway calculation, see our Cash Runway Calculator.
For growth-adjusted burn rate calculation, see our Growth-Adjusted Burn Rate Calculator.
Consult with professionals for advice specific to your situation.
