Whether youâre a new business owner or a savvy veteran, having the appropriate information and business model in place is crucial for success. Since there are numerous models and methods you can use to run your business, it’s important to choose one that will help you achieve the results you’re looking for.
Take unit economics, for example. Companies that utilize this business method base many of their decisions around the “basic unit.” More specifically, unit economics takes a closer look at a company’s revenues and costs related to a single unit of production.
Unit, in this sense, refers to an element that the organization can create and sell that will add value both internally and externally.
If your organization plans to make business decisions based on unit economics, youâll want to have a firm understanding of its equation.
Here’s a look at how to calculate unit economics.
Contents:
2. The metrics of unit economics
Calculating unit economics
Before you can start calculating unit economics for your business, you need to decide which model youâd like to use â “one item sold” or “one customer.” As youâll see below, both models have their benefits and approach unit economics from a slightly different angle.
Let’s see what makes each model different.
âOne Item Soldâ Model
One way to model unit economics is to approach it from the unit side. In this method, you would accept that a unit is “one item sold” and determine the unit economics by calculating the contribution margin.
To calculate the contribution margin of a unit, youâd use the following formula:
Contribution margin = price per unit – variable costs per sale
This method provides a direct result and helps the leadership team quickly determine the revenue/cost of a single unit.
âOne Customerâ Model
The “one customer” unit economics model requires more calculations and considers metrics such as customer lifetime value and customer acquisition costs. Since it uses additional data, companies often use the “one customer” model more frequently.
To calculate unit economics with the “one customer” model, youâd use the following formula:
Unit economics = customer lifetime value / customer acquisition cost
The metrics of unit economics
Depending on the model you use, there are several metrics youâll need to complete the calculations. Since most companies use the “one customer model,” LTV and CAC will be the most critical metrics. However, other factors such as churn rate, gross profit, and retention rate are important to know.
Lifetime value (LTV)
One of the two components of “one customer” unit economics is lifetime value or LTV. This equation provides insight into the average amount of money a business makes per customer throughout the client relationship. For instance, the LTV for a subscription company would be from the initial sign-up to the date the customer cancels their subscription.
Customer acquisition cost (CAC)
Customer acquisition cost, CAC, equates to the total investment required to acquire one customer and makes up the other half of the âone customerâ model. Even though customer acquisition cost is essential for unit economics, it can be a valuable metric for business owners outside of the model too.
Other important unit economic metrics
Even though lifetime value and customer acquisition cost are two of the most significant metrics in the unit economics equation, there are other factors you should consider. Below are some of the most common secondary metrics that companies often use in their unit economic method.
- Average customer lifetime (ACL)
- Number of transactions (T)
- Churn rate
- Retention rate (R)
- Number of customers (C)
- Gross profit (GP)
- Total revenue (TR)
- Average order value (AOV)
- Average gross margin (AGM)
- Gross margin per customer lifespan (GML)
- Discount rate (D)
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