Step-by-step walkthrough

Unit Economics (CAC:LTV) Guide

Use this companion guide beside the interactive calculator to make sure you understand the “why” behind every click. Each section includes the classroom explanation, student-friendly language, and quick practice prompts.

Before you start

Collect the data points listed below and double-check their units. Keeping an organized “givens” list is one of the fastest ways to reduce math errors and impress exam graders.

  • ltv
  • cac
  • payback

Detailed procedure

  1. Step 1

    Enter CAC and average monthly revenue per user (ARPU).

  2. Step 2

    Add gross margin percent and monthly churn percent.

  3. Step 3

    Review contribution, LTV, LTV:CAC, and CAC payback.

Teaching & troubleshooting tips

Can I use annual churn?

Convert annual churn to monthly before entering. For example, 20% annual churn ≈ 1.84% monthly.

What if gross margin is 0?

Contribution becomes zero, so LTV and payback cannot be computed. Increase margin or recheck your inputs.

Next steps