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Cannabis startup budget & cash runway planner

Know what opening costs. See how long your cash could last.

Bring your own estimates, stress-test a slower start and leave with a cash plan you can use.

Build your plan
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From startup costs to staying power

Make the assumptions yours.

Amounts are USD. The example is invented to show the math, not a typical cost or forecast for any business.

Start with the example, then replace it. Different markets, license types and premises can change costs substantially.

01Available cash & one-time costs

Start with money already available and quotes for getting ready to open.

Cash you can actually use. Do not count unapproved financing.
Application fees, legal, accounting and permit costs.
Fit-out, deposits and site preparation paid before opening.
Equipment, security, point of sale and setup.
Initial stock or supplies paid for before opening.
Insurance deposits, launch costs and items not counted above.
Added to all one-time costs and held out of operating cash.
02Monthly cash commitments

Include recurring costs even in months with no sales.

Rent, payroll, insurance, utilities and owner pay. Exclude costs already counted elsewhere.
Your own cash estimate, including applicable income or other business taxes. Not a tax calculation.
Full principal and interest payments. No loan approval is assumed.
Full recurring costs continue during this no-revenue period.
03Sales, margin & reserve

Use conservative assumptions you can explain and revise.

Net of discounts and refunds. Exclude sales taxes collected for the government.
Compounds after opening. A negative value models declining sales.
Revenue left after variable product, transaction and selling costs. Before fixed costs, tax allowance and debt.
Extra months of recurring cash outflows to keep available.

This planner does not send or save your input values. Refreshing the page restores the example. The site’s normal ads and analytics still apply. Exports contain your numbers, so store them privately.

Transparent by design

A model you can understand.

01 / THE MATH

What the numbers mean

Upfront budget
Total one-time costs × (1 + contingency percentage).
Cash at opening
Available cash − upfront budget − pre-opening months × recurring monthly cash outflows.
Monthly net cash flow
Revenue × contribution margin − fixed costs − tax cash allowance − debt payments.
Cash break-even sales
Recurring monthly cash outflows ÷ contribution margin. A zero margin cannot cover positive outflows.
Starting cash target
Upfront budget + largest cumulative operating deficit through 12 months after opening + reserve months × recurring outflows.
02 / THE LIMITS

Cash planning is not profit

The calculation does not model receivables, supplier payment terms, inventory timing, seasonality, depreciation, capital replacement or financing proceeds. Opening inventory is paid up front; the margin then assumes variable costs are paid as sales occur.

Contingency is treated as committed and unavailable throughout the plan. Break-even here is a cash measure, not accounting profit. Principal payments and a fixed tax cash allowance are included.

Tax rules, license availability and operating requirements vary. This tool does not determine legality, funding eligibility, deductible expenses or actual taxes owed. Review your plan with qualified legal and accounting advisers.

Educational planning only. Not lending, investment, legal or tax advice. No revenue, profit or financing outcome is promised.

One small worked example

$10,000 of one-time costs with a 10% contingency needs $11,000 up front. With $30,000 available and a two-month wait at $3,000 per month, opening cash is $13,000. At a 50% contribution margin, $6,000 of monthly sales covers that $3,000 cash outflow. Those figures are illustrative, not industry benchmarks.

Before relying on your plan

  • Replace example amounts with written quotes and your own sales assumptions.
  • Check licensing, permitted use, insurance and tax obligations in your jurisdiction.
  • Model a slower start, a longer opening delay and lower sales.
  • Keep financing offers and personal financial details out of this calculator.

Useful starting points: SBA startup-cost planning · IRS small-business tax information. General resources are not evidence of cannabis-program eligibility.

Build a more complete plan

Go deeper into the numbers.

Use a focused tool when you need to unpack one assumption.

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