Who This Helps
You're a Product Manager who gets asked tough questions. "Why is revenue up but cash flat?" "Can we afford that new hire?" You need answers that turn into decisions, not more meetings. The Founder Finance Basics Mission Pack is built for exactly this moment.
Mini Case
Meet Ben. His startup's revenue jumped 20% last quarter. But cash? Flat. His CEO wanted a one-page truth. Ben ran a Unit Economics Snapshot mission from the pack. He found his CAC was 12% higher than expected, and payback stretched to 7 months. That one card saved a hiring spree that would have burned cash.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Grab your revenue and cost numbers for one product line. You need total revenue, variable costs, and customer count. That's it.
- Calculate your unit economics. Revenue per customer minus cost per customer. If it's negative, you have a leak.
- Check your CAC payback period. Divide customer acquisition cost by monthly gross profit per customer. Aim for under 12 months.
- Run a pricing scenario. Pick one price change (up or down). Model the impact on units sold and profit. Set a stop rule: if profit drops 5%, revert.
- Build a runway forecast. Take your current cash, add expected monthly burn, and see how many months you have. Share that number with your team.
Avoid These Traps
- Don't mix one-time costs with recurring ones. That inflates your unit cost and makes decisions wrong.
- Don't ignore customer segments. A high-paying segment might hide a losing one.
- Don't skip the stop rule. Without it, pricing changes become emotional.
- Don't present raw data. Stakeholders want a decision, not a spreadsheet.
- Don't assume revenue growth equals health. Cash tells the real story.
- Don't forget to update your forecast monthly. Runway changes fast.
- Don't use averages for everything. Look at channel-level CAC.
- Don't wait for perfect data. Start with what you have and refine.
Your Win by Friday
By Friday, you'll have a Unit Economics Snapshot Card that answers the cash question. You'll know your CAC payback period and runway in months. Your stakeholders will see a clear decision: hire now or wait. And you'll feel calm, not confused. Finance is just math with a deadline.