StartupCostCheck Glossary
What is First-sale runway?
First-sale runway is the time your startup cash can support essential business costs until the first realistic customer payment is expected to arrive.
Why it matters
A plan may have twelve months of total runway but still struggle if the first payment arrives after several large bills. First-sale runway focuses on the earliest gap between spending and cash coming in. It helps you test whether the launch can survive a slower customer decision or payment delay.
How to use it
- Estimate when the first customer can realistically pay.
- List every essential cost due before that date.
- Test a later-payment scenario rather than the best case.
- Delay optional purchases that shorten this early window.
The free StartupCostCheck compares early costs with your expected first-sale timing. It shows where a smaller opening spend could protect that window.
Short definitions of the money words behind a safe business start: runway, burn, risk budget, what to buy now and what to delay.
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