Definition
Cash interest coverage measures how many times cash flow can cover cash interest expense.
Formula
Cash interest coverage = operating cash flow / cash interest expense
Example
Operating cash flow $600k and cash interest $120k yields 5.0x.
How to use it
- Use cash interest, not total interest expense, for liquidity testing.
- Stress test coverage using downside revenue scenarios.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring principal payments that also affect solvency.
- Using EBITDA when working capital swings are large.
Why this matters
This term matters because cash timing and risk are usually the difference between a plan that works on paper and a plan that survives. Use consistent definitions so decisions are comparable over time.
Practical checklist
- Write a 1-line definition for "Cash Interest Coverage" that your team will use consistently.
- Keep the time window consistent (weekly/monthly/quarterly) when comparing trends.
- Segment results (channel/plan/cohort) before drawing big conclusions from blended averages.
- Sanity-check with a related calculator from the same category on MetricKit.
- Read the related guide (e.g., Loan amortization: how monthly payments and total interest work) for context and common pitfalls.
Where to use this on MetricKit
Calculators
- Pre-money vs Post-money Valuation Calculator: Convert between pre-money and post-money valuation and estimate investor ownership from a financing round size.
- Pro Rata Investment Calculator: Estimate how much you need to invest in a new round to maintain your ownership percentage (simplified).
- Option Pool Shuffle Calculator: Estimate founder dilution impact when the option pool is increased to a target percent of post-money (simplified).
- SAFE Conversion Calculator: Estimate how a SAFE converts in a priced round using a valuation cap and/or discount (simplified).
- Convertible Note Conversion Calculator: Estimate how a convertible note converts in a priced round with interest plus a valuation cap and/or discount (simplified).
Guides
- Loan amortization: how monthly payments and total interest work: A practical guide to loan amortization: monthly payment formula, why interest dominates early, and how term and rate affect total interest.
- Runway and burn: gross vs net burn, working capital, and cash levers: A practical guide to runway: compute net burn, understand why cash differs from profit, and how working capital and collections change runway.