Does the phrase "burn money" make any sense to you besides its literal meaning?
Besides its literal meaning of setting banknotes on fire, in Mandarin we also say "burn money" to describe the situation where you still need to keep investing money in your business at the early stage before you can start to profit.

We might say something like:
A: "How's business going?"
B: "Still burning money."
Or, "The money-burning stage of this company lasted 7 years."

It doesn't mean that you have money to burn, which as far as I know means you are rich. I'm wondering if this happens to be the same way to say it in English too. If not, is there any expression similar to this or how exactly would this idea be described in English?=====================================
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Question

Does the phrase "burn money" make any sense to you besides its literal meaning?
Besides its literal meaning of setting banknotes on fire, in Mandarin we also say "burn money" to describe the situation where you still need to keep investing money in your business at the early stage before you can start to profit.

We might say something like:
A: "How's business going?"
B: "Still burning money."
Or, "The money-burning stage of this company lasted 7 years."

It doesn't mean that you have money to burn, which as far as I know means you are rich. I'm wondering if this happens to be the same way to say it in English too. If not, is there any expression similar to this or how exactly would this idea be described in English?=====================================
Thank you guys so much!
The answers are very very helpful.
Thanks again! ^_^

Answer

In 70-80s, Californina house finance rate reached its highest point at14%, the rate hit the bottom at 6% in the 90-02s. The bankers persuade people to refinance their house, they make money from charging 1-2% on top of the loan.  

"Have money to burn". In United States, it was very popular in Real Estates when the house price was high and the finance rate drops. The bankers alway said " even you have money to burn, but refinancing your house will save you thousands of dollars, you have nothing to loose." 

Have money to burn, it is not just the literal meaning, it is the fact that some people have already put into application.

Answer

Hi Antman,
I've not heard the term "burning money" used in a business sense, although if you said it to me I would totally understand what you are talking about.

A simlar business term is  "break-even point".
"It may take a business several years to break even (or "to reach the break-even point").

Before the break-even point, you can also say it's an "early-stage business". 
If it's near or at break-even, you can say it's a "growth-stage business".

Answer

Hello antman,

It could mean literally turning cash into ashes ;) .Money burning is destroying money by setting them on fire. It is procedure to reduce the supply of money for economic reasons.

However as an idiomatic expression it means when someone is very rich, they have money to burn, spend money in big amounts equally on important and trivial stuff. It is like squandering and wasting money ,throwing it away and spending it thoughtlessly.

Answer

Having money to burn means having lots of money, but also implies that the money is being spent on trivial things. (money to burn = money to waste)

I don't know of any specific business term for the first few non-profitable years when starting a new business.
Although I suspect that very few businessmen would admit that their business was not profitable.

Answer

In English, the phrase is used in exactly the same way that you describe.