Unit Economics

The revenue and costs associated with a single unit of your business, typically one customer.

Definition

Unit economics measures the direct revenues and costs associated with a particular business model expressed on a per-unit basis. It's fundamental to understanding whether your business model can be profitable at scale.

Key Components

  • LTV (Lifetime Value): Total revenue from one customer
  • CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost): Cost to acquire one customer
  • Contribution Margin: Revenue minus variable costs per unit
  • Payback Period: Time to recover acquisition cost

Why It Matters

  • Scalability: Shows if business model works at individual level
  • Investment Decisions: Guides marketing spend and growth strategy

Related Terms