The number every investor pitch deck needs
- <12 mo
- Healthy break-even target post-raise
- 100%
- Of decks need this slide
- 12
- Languages supported
- Free
- No credit card required
Free founder calculator
When does your startup stop bleeding cash?
Drop in your fixed costs, price per unit, and variable cost. We tell you the exact units (or revenue) needed to break even and how long it takes.
- Break-even units, revenue, and months at current run rate
- Sensitivity to price changes and cost reductions
- Free. Localized in 12 languages. No card.
Used by founders modeling break-even before raising and after pivoting.
Created by founders from top global accelerators
How it works
Three numbers. One clear answer. Zero spreadsheet wrestling.
- 01
Drop in your costs and price
Monthly fixed costs (rent, salaries, tools), variable cost per unit, and what you sell each unit for.
- 02
We compute break-even units and revenue
Contribution margin per unit, units needed, and the monthly revenue that gets you there.
- 03
Stress-test the number
What happens if you raise price 10%? Cut costs 15%? Quick sensitivity to make your deck investor-grade.
See what you'll get
Break-even units, revenue, and timing ready for your deck. Sign up to calculate yours.
Sample result
Break-even units (monthly)350 unitsNumber of units to sell per month to cover fixed and variable costs. At current pricing and unit economics.
Break-even revenue (monthly)$70,000Monthly revenue needed to cover all costs. Use this as the milestone target for your Series A pitch.
Time to break even14 monthsAt current growth rate, the month you stop burning cash. Tighten this to under 12 to look investor-ready.
Sign up to calculate your own break-even with sensitivity to price and cost changes.
What break-even tells investors about your business
Investors do not fund break-even, they fund growth. But break-even tells them WHEN you stop needing them. Four moves to use it well.
01
Lead the deck with break-even at the new raise
Investors at Series A want to see how the new capital lands you AT break-even within 18 to 24 months. Founders who cannot answer 'how does this round get you to break-even' end pitches early. Have the slide ready before the meeting.
02
Contribution margin is the leverage
Contribution margin (price minus variable cost) determines how steeply break-even moves with growth. Founders obsessed with price ignore that a 5-point margin increase can halve break-even units. Look at both.
03
Break-even is not profitability
Break-even is contribution margin covering fixed costs. Profitability includes taxes, interest, depreciation. For most early startups, break-even is the milestone that matters. Profitability comes later.
04
Track break-even versus runway monthly
If projected break-even keeps slipping while runway keeps shrinking, you are running into a wall. If break-even is shrinking faster than runway, you are running out of need-to-raise. Compare both monthly.
Frequently asked questions
How is break-even different from profitability?
Break-even is when contribution margin covers fixed costs (including salaries). Profitability includes taxes, depreciation, interest, and one-time costs. Most early-stage founders should focus on break-even first; profitability comes later.
Should I include founder salary in fixed costs?
Yes. Founders who skip this look financially unsophisticated to investors. Include market salary even if you are paying yourself less, so the model is honest about long-term sustainability.
What if my costs are mostly fixed?
Common for SaaS. Variable cost per unit is near zero (cloud + payment fees). Break-even then depends almost entirely on units sold against fixed costs. Run the calc with a small variable cost (5 to 15% of price) to be realistic.
How do I lower break-even?
Two levers: increase contribution margin (raise price, lower variable cost) or reduce fixed costs (smaller team, fewer tools, lower rent). Margin levers usually have bigger impact and are easier to test.
Is break-even realistic for venture-backed startups?
Yes, eventually. Most VC-backed startups target break-even within 18 to 24 months of Series A. Burning forever is no longer a strategy. Investors at Series A and beyond expect a plan to break-even, even if the company keeps growing past it.
Keep going
Break-even is the milestone. Here are the metrics that get you there.
Round Funded
Know the milestone. Raise the right amount.
Round Funded gives you the calculators, the investor list, and the outreach so you raise to break-even, not just survive. Track every conversation in one pipeline.