Unit Economics — SaaS glossary

The per-customer math behind sustainable SaaS growth - CAC, LTV, payback period.

CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost)

The total cost of acquiring a new paying customer, including marketing and sales expenses.

LTV (Customer Lifetime Value)

The total revenue a customer generates over their entire relationship with your product.

CAC Payback Period

The number of months it takes to recover the cost of acquiring a customer.

LTV:CAC Ratio

The ratio between customer lifetime value and acquisition cost - the core measure of unit economics health.

Gross Margin

Revenue minus the direct costs of delivering your service, expressed as a percentage.

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