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SaaS Metrics

SaaS Unit Economics Calculator

Input your core metrics and get an instant health score with benchmark comparisons.

Your Metrics

$
$
%/mo
%

Unit Economics Score

Healthy

62

/100

LTV$18,750

Benchmark: 3× CAC minimum

LTV : CAC Ratio3.8×

✓ Healthy (≥ 3×)

CAC Payback Period13 months

⚠ Acceptable (12-18 mo)

Avg Customer Lifetime50 months
Implied Annual Churn21.5%

✗ High (> 10%)

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How to Use This Tool

Enter your Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), and churn rate. The calculator computes your LTV, LTV:CAC ratio, and payback period — the three metrics that tell you whether your business model actually works.

Core Formulas

LTV = ARPU ÷ Churn Rate | LTV:CAC = LTV ÷ CAC | Payback = CAC ÷ Monthly ARPU

LTV tells you how much a customer is worth over their lifetime. LTV:CAC tells you whether you're spending the right amount to acquire them. Payback tells you how fast you recover your acquisition cost.

Why This Matters

Unit economics determine whether your company can scale profitably. A SaaS company with a 5:1 LTV:CAC ratio can aggressively invest in growth. A company with a 1.5:1 ratio is burning cash on every customer. VCs won't fund growth that doesn't have a path to positive unit economics.

Industry Benchmarks

Healthy LTV:CAC

≥ 3:1

Below 3:1 means acquisition is too expensive

Good Payback Period

< 12 months

Recover CAC within a year

Target Churn (SaaS)

< 5% monthly

Best-in-class is < 2% monthly

What to Do With Your Results

  1. 1If LTV:CAC is below 3:1, either reduce CAC (cheaper channels) or increase LTV (reduce churn, upsell).
  2. 2If payback is over 18 months, you need more capital to sustain growth — factor this into your fundraising plan.
  3. 3Track these metrics monthly — improving unit economics is as important as growing revenue.

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