Liquidity Management
For business owners and CEOs with debt

Take control of liquidity, loan covenants, and your next move

Forecast liquidity, see when pressure hits, test scenarios, and get an action plan, negotiation playbook, and lender communication for banks and investors.

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Breach date projection Breach vs. funding timing Risk score Action playbook
How it works
1
Your lender set rules when you borrowed

Most business loans include a limit on how much debt you can carry relative to your earnings. Go above it, and you're in breach.

2
A breach shifts power to your lender

They can charge penalties, block distributions, tighten your credit line, or call in the loan — even if you're still operating profitably.

3
This tool calculates when that happens

And shows you whether it hits before or after your next funding, refinancing, or cash milestone. That timing changes everything.

Does this apply to you?

A quick check to see if this tool is relevant for you.

1. What type of debt does your business have?

Select all that apply

Upload your P&L and/or Balance Sheet from your accounting software. Supports CSV and Excel (.xlsx).

📁
Drop file here or click to browse
.csv, .xlsx, .xls

Upload your loan agreement PDF and let AI extract the covenant threshold, debt amount, test frequency, and more. You review and edit everything before applying.

📄
Drop PDF here or click to browse
.pdf only
Your loan numbers
?Not sure which to pick? Monthly EBITDA is what your business earned in the most recent month. LTM EBITDA is the total for the last 12 months. If you have your annual P&L, choose LTM. If you only have recent monthly reports, choose Monthly. 📋 Where to find it: Your P&L statement from your accountant. Look for "EBITDA" or "operating profit."
Number format: 1,000,000.00
?How many years of profit it would take to pay off all your debt. A ratio of 2.8 means you owe 2.8 times your annual earnings. We calculate this from your other inputs — enter it here so we can check they match. 📋 Where to find it: Your lender may quote this in review meetings or quarterly reports.
Debt / EBITDA (e.g. 2.8)
?The limit your bank sets on how much debt you can have compared to your earnings, typically called a ratio in contracts. If you go over this number, you've broken a rule in your loan — and the lender gets extra power. 📋 Where to find it: Your loan agreement, in a section usually called "Financial Covenants."
Max ratio before breach (e.g. 3.0)
?Your company's monthly operating profit before accounting adjustments. Think of it as: revenue minus the costs of running the business, but before interest, tax, and depreciation are subtracted. 📋 Where to find it: Your P&L statement from your accountant. Look for "EBITDA" or "operating profit."
Current monthly figure
?Is your monthly profit going up, down, or staying flat? Enter the amount that changes each month. A negative value means it's shrinking (e.g., -25,000). Positive means growing. Enter 0 if it's roughly stable. 📋 Where to find it: Compare your last 3–6 months of EBITDA and estimate the monthly pattern. You find the EBITDA in your P&L statement from your accountant or bookkeeper. Look for "EBITDA" or "operating profit."
Change per month (negative = decline)
?The total amount you owe to your lender — loans, credit lines, and any borrowed capital. Do not include what you owe suppliers (trade payables) or money from investors (equity). 📋 Where to find it: Your balance sheet under "Interest-bearing debt" or "Long-term liabilities." Your lender can confirm.
Outstanding debt balance
?The date when your cash runs out if nothing changes. If this comes before a loan breach, running out of cash is your more urgent problem. 📋 Where to find it: Your accountant or CFO can estimate this from your current cash balance and monthly burn rate.
When cash runs out
?When you expect new money to arrive — from investors, a new loan, or refinancing. If you break your loan terms before this date, the lender has leverage over you before your lifeline lands. 📋 Where to find it: Your own funding timeline. When is the next capital expected to close?
When new funding lands
Fine-tune the model to match your actual covenant agreement: testing frequency, net debt definitions, and EBITDA adjustments.
?How often your lender checks whether you're within your loan limits. Most lenders check quarterly (every 3 months). You can only break the rules on a test date — not between them. 📋 Where to find it: Your loan agreement, in the covenant testing section. Or ask your lender contact.
Monthly or Quarterly
?The date of your next scheduled covenant test. Future test dates are calculated forward from this date. If left empty, the model tests every month from today. 📋 Where to find it: Your lender's reporting schedule or your last compliance report.
Anchor for test schedule
Many covenants use net debt instead of gross debt
?Some loans measure debt after subtracting your cash in the bank. If your loan uses "net debt," enable this and enter your cash balance — it makes your ratio look better. 📋 Where to find it: Check if your loan agreement says "net debt" or "gross debt" in the covenant definition.
?Some loan agreements let you adjust your profit number upwards for unusual costs (like a one-time restructuring). This makes your financial position look better for the covenant test. 📋 Where to find it: Your loan agreement may list "Permitted Adjustments" or "EBITDA Add-backs." Ask your lawyer or lender.
e.g. 10 for 10% add-back
The Cash Conversion Cycle measures how long cash is tied up in operations. Adding these figures shows the hidden drag on your effective headroom.
?Average days to sell inventory. Calculated as (Avg Inventory / COGS) x 365. Uses COGS, not revenue.
Days to sell inventory (e.g. 45)
?Average days for customers to pay you. Calculated as (Avg AR / Revenue) x 365. Based on revenue.
Days to collect payment (e.g. 38)
?Average days you take to pay suppliers. Calculated as (Avg AP / COGS) x 365. Uses COGS. Higher works in your favor.
Days to pay suppliers (e.g. 30)
?Annual revenue or run-rate. Used with gross margin to calculate the cash trapped in your operating cycle.
For working capital estimation
?Your gross margin as a percentage. Used to derive COGS from revenue for accurate DIO and DPO calculations. COGS = Revenue x (1 - Gross Margin). E.g. 65% margin means 35% of revenue is COGS.
e.g. 65 for 65% margin
?Percentage of total revenue from your single largest client. If above 20%, losing that client could dramatically accelerate a covenant breach.
% from largest client (e.g. 35)
?Your expected monthly revenue growth rate as a percentage. Used to project how working capital demand scales with growth. Even modest growth rates can create significant cash demand if your cash conversion cycle is long.
Expected monthly revenue growth (e.g. 10)
?Total fixed monthly operating costs including payroll, rent, insurance, and other overhead that does not vary with revenue. Used to calculate operating cash flow after working capital absorption.
Payroll + rent + other fixed opex
?Your current available cash balance for operations. This is the starting point for the stress test projection. May differ from Cash on Hand used in the net debt calculation if some cash is restricted.
Available cash for operations
Covenant Breach Analysis
PRO

💡 To compare scenarios: save this result, change your inputs above, calculate again, and save the new result. Up to 3 scenarios are shown side by side.

Projected Breach Date?This is the date when your debt-to-earnings ratio is projected to cross the limit in your loan agreement. After this date, your lender can take action — penalties, tighter terms, or calling in the loan.
Headroom Remaining?How many weeks you have before you hit the limit. Think of it as your safety margin — the more weeks, the more time you have to act.
Current Leverage (Implied)
Funding Close Date
Cash Zero Date

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Method & Real Example

This calculator estimates covenant headroom as time-to-breach on the next covenant test dates, using net debt to EBITDA and an explicit EBITDA trend assumption. Results are directional. Your loan agreement definitions always govern.

Example Inputs

Net debt4.35m
LTM EBITDA1.80m
Current net leverage2.4×
Covenant threshold3.0×
EBITDA trend−10k / month
Test frequencyQuarterly
Next test date31 Mar 2026
Cash-zero date31 Jul 2026
Funding close30 Sep 2026
Cash conversion cycle87 days

Example Output

Projected breach test date30 Jun 2026
Headroom13 weeks
Negotiation riskBreach before funding close

That single output drives the board conversation: request a waiver now, accelerate the funding timeline, or renegotiate the covenant — while you still have leverage.

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Privacy Policy — Covenant Horizon Calculator

Early Warning Index ApS is committed to protecting your personal data in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

What We Collect

  • Your email address, name, and company name (provided by you)
  • Your covenant scenario data (breach date, headroom, leverage, etc.) — auto-captured from your calculation
  • Technical metadata: language preference, timestamp, referrer URL

Why We Collect It

To provide you with a personalised covenant sensitivity analysis and to contact you about Early Warning Index services relevant to your situation. Legal basis: your explicit consent (GDPR Art. 6(1)(a)).

Who Has Access

Your data is stored securely by Netlify (our form processor, based in the US, with EU Standard Contractual Clauses in place). Only the Early Warning Index team accesses your submissions.

How Long We Keep It

We retain your data for up to 24 months from submission, or until you request deletion — whichever comes first.

Your Rights

Under GDPR, you have the right to access, rectify, delete, restrict processing, or port your data. You can withdraw consent at any time. Contact us at privacy@earlywarningindex.com.

Data Controller

Early Warning Index ApS, Denmark. Contact: privacy@earlywarningindex.com

Why This Tool Is Different

Most financial tools focus on cash runway. This one focuses on the moment your lender gains control — a far more consequential date.

1

Leverage Timing, Not Just Cash

Shows when your debt-to-EBITDA ratio crosses the covenant threshold — the real trigger for lender intervention, separate from when cash runs out.

2

Cash Conversion Cycle Integration

Reveals how much cash is trapped in your operating cycle. Your income statement may look healthy while your working capital tells a different story.

3

Breach vs. Funding Comparison

Compares your breach date against your funding close date. If the breach comes first, your lender holds the cards before your capital arrives.

4

Contextual Negotiation Playbook

Generates specific action recommendations based on your results — from waiver requests to covenant renegotiation, with links to deeper EWI resources.

5

Board-Ready Output

Monthly projection table, scenario comparison, sensitivity analysis, and PDF export — everything you need for your next board meeting or lender conversation.

6

Financial Report Upload

Upload a P&L or Balance Sheet (CSV/Excel) and the tool auto-detects revenue, EBITDA, debt, cash, receivables, inventory, and payables — pre-filling every field in seconds.

7

Bridge Round Checklist

When a breach is detected, an interactive checklist scores your bridge readiness across four survival metrics and six warning signals — helping you decide whether to bridge or pivot.

Who It's For

Whether you're managing debt for the first time or preparing for a board review, this tool gives you the numbers that matter.

🎯

Startup Founders

You took on debt to grow. Now you need to know exactly when that debt becomes a constraint — before your lender tells you.

📊

CFOs & Finance Leads

Model covenant scenarios with real-world mechanics: quarterly testing, net debt, EBITDA add-backs. Present to the board with confidence.

📖

First-Time Borrowers

New to covenants? The built-in educational tooltips and intro section explain every concept without assuming prior knowledge.

🤝

Advisors & Board Members

Use the scenario comparison and sensitivity analysis to stress-test assumptions and guide leadership through covenant strategy.

How It Works

Four steps to your covenant breach analysis. Takes less than 2 minutes.

1

Enter Your Numbers

EBITDA, debt, covenant threshold, key dates. Choose monthly or LTM input mode.

2

Fine-Tune (Optional)

Add quarterly testing, net debt, EBITDA add-backs, or cash conversion cycle data.

3

Get Your Analysis

Breach date, headroom, timeline, sensitivity analysis, and month-by-month projections.

4

Act on It

Follow the contextual playbook. Save scenarios. Export PDF for your board or lender meeting.

The Negotiation Playbook

Based on your results, the tool generates specific recommendations. Here are examples of the advice it provides:

< 8 weeks to breach: Request a waiver letter immediately
Breach before funding: Accelerate your funding timeline
Thin margin: Build a 3-4 week contingency buffer
Cash before breach: Address liquidity first
High CCC: Optimize your cash conversion cycle
Healthy position: Monitor monthly and maintain buffer

About Early Warning Index

Early Warning Index builds decision intelligence tools for founders, CFOs, and board members. Our tools help you see around corners — identifying risks before they become crises, and quantifying the cost of delayed decisions.

Visit Early Warning Index →

Choose Your Plan

Use the tool for free, or upgrade for full access to all features.

Free
€0
No credit card required
  • Covenant breach calculation
  • EWI Risk Score
  • 6-month projection
  • Top 1 sensitivity lever
  • 2 saved scenarios
  • 3 trend snapshots
  • CSV/Excel import
  • AI loan agreement parsing (1/day)
Use for free

Frequently Asked Questions

A covenant breach occurs when your leverage ratio (Total Debt / Annual EBITDA) exceeds the threshold set in your loan agreement. This gives your lender significant control — including the right to charge penalties, accelerate repayment, or call in the loan entirely.
The calculator projects your trailing 12-month EBITDA forward using your monthly trend, then checks each month (or quarter) whether Total Debt / Projected Annual EBITDA exceeds your covenant threshold. The first date it crosses is your projected breach date.
The Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) measures how many days cash is tied up in operations — in inventory, receivables, and payables. Even if your income statement looks healthy, a long CCC means cash is trapped and unavailable, effectively reducing your headroom before a covenant breach.
All calculations run entirely in your browser. No financial data is sent to any server. The only data transmitted is your email address (if you opt in for a personalised analysis), which is processed by Netlify under GDPR-compliant terms.
Based on your results, the tool generates context-specific recommendations — whether to request a waiver, accelerate funding, renegotiate terms, or address liquidity first. Each recommendation links to relevant Early Warning Index resources.
Yes. The calculator automatically detects both English (1,200,000.50) and Danish (1.200.000,50) number formats. You can also switch the entire interface to Danish using the language toggle.
The What-If Simulator lets you adjust key variables — debt level, EBITDA trend, covenant threshold, and EBITDA add-backs — using live sliders. The breach date, headroom, leverage, and Early Warning Score update instantly so you can model scenarios without changing your original inputs.
When a breach is detected, the Bridge Round Checklist scores your readiness for bridge financing across four survival metrics (cash runway, EBITDA trend, leverage vs. covenant, burn multiple) and six warning signals. It gives a clear proceed, high-risk, or do-not-bridge recommendation.
Yes. Upload a P&L or Balance Sheet in CSV or Excel format and the tool auto-detects revenue, EBITDA, debt, cash, receivables, inventory, and payables — pre-filling the calculator fields in seconds. You can also download a template to format your data correctly.
The tool generates four pre-drafted communication templates personalised with your data: a covenant waiver request, a renegotiation letter, a proactive lender update, and a bridge financing request. Each can be copied or printed and used as a starting point for lender conversations.
The tool automatically calculates what happens if your EBITDA declines by 10% from your projected trend. It shows how many weeks earlier the breach date would move forward, helping you understand your margin of safety and plan for downside scenarios.
The Early Warning Score is a composite metric from 0 to 100 that combines three factors: covenant proximity (how close you are to breach), cash runway (how long your cash lasts), and operational efficiency (cash conversion cycle). A higher score indicates a stronger financial position.
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