Unit economics and financial model for efficient scaling
Calculate and optimize unit economics to ensure that scaling doesn't mean burning through more cash.
Build a detailed unit economics model that proves the business is financially viable at scale and identify the levers to improve efficiency.
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Prompt objective
Build a detailed unit economics model that proves the business is financially viable at scale and identify the levers to improve efficiency.
Real use case
EduPass, a B2B subscription-based corporate training edtech, is growing 20% monthly but its burn rate is increasing proportionally. The board requested a unit economics analysis to assess whether the model is sustainable. CAC stands at $890, average contract value at $149/month, and monthly churn at 8%. The founders are unsure whether to hit the accelerator or apply the brakes.
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Prompt
Build a complete unit economics model for [STARTUP NAME] and identify optimization levers for efficient scaling.\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\n**Business data:**\\\\\\\\n- Business model: [SAAS/MARKETPLACE/E-COMMERCE/TRANSACTIONAL]\\\\\\\\n- Average contract value: $[AMOUNT]/[month/transaction]\\\\\\\\n- Blended CAC: $[AMOUNT]\\\\\\\\n - Organic CAC: $[AMOUNT]\\\\\\\\n - Paid CAC: $[AMOUNT]\\\\\\\\n- Monthly churn: [PERCENTAGE]%\\\\\\\\n- Gross margin: [PERCENTAGE]%\\\\\\\\n- Cost to serve per customer/month: $[AMOUNT]\\\\\\\\n- Sales cycle: [DAYS] days\\\\\\\\n- Monthly ARPU: $[AMOUNT]\\\\\\\\n- Active customers: [NUMBER]\\\\\\\\n- MRR: $[AMOUNT]\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\n**1) Unit Economics Calculation:**\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\n*Core metrics:*\\\\\\\\n- LTV = ARPU × Gross Margin / Churn Rate\\\\\\\\n- CAC Payback = CAC / (ARPU × Gross Margin)\\\\\\\\n- LTV/CAC Ratio\\\\\\\\n- Contribution Margin per customer\\\\\\\\n- Monthly contribution margin\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\n*By cohort:*\\\\\\\\n- Unit economics for M-1, M-3, M-6, M-12 cohorts\\\\\\\\n- LTV evolution over time\\\\\\\\n- Revenue retention curve\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\n*By acquisition channel:*\\\\\\\\n- CAC, LTV, Payback by channel\\\\\\\\n- Which channels to scale vs. which to cut\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\n*By plan/segment:*\\\\\\\\n- Unit economics by pricing tier\\\\\\\\n- Most profitable segments\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\n**2) Benchmarks:**\\\\\\\\n| Metric | Your Startup | Good Benchmark | Excellent Benchmark |\\\\\\\\n|--------|-------------|----------------|---------------------|\\\\\\\\n| LTV/CAC | | >3x | >5x |\\\\\\\\n| CAC Payback | | <12 months | <6 months |\\\\\\\\n| Gross Margin | | >60% | >80% |\\\\\\\\n| Net Dollar Retention | | >100% | >120% |\\\\\\\\n| Monthly Churn | | <5% | <2% |\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\n**3) Optimization Levers:**\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\n*To improve LTV:*\\\\\\\\n- Reduce churn: [3 specific actions]\\\\\\\\n- Increase ARPU: [3 actions — upsell, pricing, add-ons]\\\\\\\\n- Improve gross margin: [3 actions — automation, renegotiation]\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\n*To reduce CAC:*\\\\\\\\n- Improve funnel conversion: [3 actions]\\\\\\\\n- Increase organic/paid ratio: [3 actions]\\\\\\\\n- Referral program: projected impact\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\n**4) Projection Model (12 months):**\\\\\\\\n- Scenario 1: Status quo (no improvements)\\\\\\\\n- Scenario 2: Moderate optimization (20% improvement in CAC and churn)\\\\\\\\n- Scenario 3: Aggressive optimization (40% improvement)\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\n| Month | MRR | Customers | CAC | LTV | Burn |\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\n**5) Decision: Scale or Optimize?**\\\\\\\\n- Criteria for hitting the accelerator\\\\\\\\n- Criteria for stopping and optimizing first\\\\\\\\n- Framework \\\\\\\\
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