Reading the 12-Month Cash Projection Chart
Learn how the AskBiz 12-month SVG cash projection chart is constructed and how to interpret the green line, red line, and zero crossover point.
Key Takeaways
- The green line represents projected cash balance under your current burn rate; a red line appears when it crosses zero.
- The zero line is the critical threshold — any point where the projection crosses it indicates cash-out.
- The chart updates in real time when you adjust cost settings, making it a live what-if planning tool.
Where the Chart Appears
Step 1: Navigate to the /intelligence page in AskBiz. Step 2: Click the Cash Runway card to open the runway drill-down panel. Step 3: Scroll down past the formula section and the 4-Scenario Table. Step 4: The 12-Month Cash Projection Chart appears as an SVG line chart spanning the full width of the panel. The horizontal axis represents the next 12 months and the vertical axis represents cash balance in your currency.
The Green Line — Projected Cash Balance
The green line traces your projected cash balance over the next 12 months assuming your current daily burn rate continues unchanged. The starting point of the line is your current cash balance on the left axis. Each subsequent month's value is calculated by subtracting 30 times daily burn from the previous month's balance. When revenue offsets are present, the line slopes downward more slowly or may even slope upward if you are cash positive. A steadily descending green line that remains above zero for the full 12-month chart window indicates a Healthy or Strong runway status.
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Start for free →The Red Line and Zero Crossing
When the projected cash balance is expected to reach zero before the 12-month window ends, the line colour transitions from green to red at the zero-crossing point. The zero crossing point is the most important feature of the chart — it shows exactly when cash runs out under current conditions. Step 1: Locate where the line changes from green to red on the chart. Step 2: Read the month label on the horizontal axis directly below that point. Step 3: That month is your projected cash-out date. Step 4: If no red portion appears on the chart, your runway extends beyond 12 months under current conditions.
The Zero Line
A horizontal dashed line at y equals zero runs across the chart as a visual reference. This is the zero line — the point at which cash balance would be depleted. All projected cash balance values above this line are safe; any values below it represent a negative cash position, which is not sustainable. The area below the zero line may be shown in a different background shade to make the risk zone visually distinct. When planning, your goal is to ensure the green projection line never touches or crosses the zero line within your planning horizon.
Using the Chart as a What-If Tool
Step 1: With the runway drill-down panel open and the chart visible, open the Cost Config Drawer (you can open it from the gear icon without closing the panel). Step 2: Reduce a major cost category by 10 or 20 percent and save. Step 3: Return to the runway panel. The chart will have updated to show the new projection. The green line will be shallower — declining more slowly — and any red portion may have shortened or disappeared. Step 4: This live feedback loop lets you directly see how cost decisions translate into projected cash outcomes. Repeat with different cost categories to find the configuration that keeps the chart green for your desired planning horizon.