Six team types and how they mess with your ROI calculations
Original: TBM 340: Path to $
John Cutler
June 2, 2025
7 min read
Framework
Intermediate
Summary
This article discusses key unit economics and efficiency metrics for SaaS businesses, including CAC payback, LTV:CAC ratio, contribution margin, and the rule-of-40. It explains how to calculate and analyze these metrics to understand the underlying profitability drivers and unit-level economics of the business.
Who This Is For
Product Managers
Founders
Key Takeaways
- Identify which of six team archetypes your teams fall into based on proximity to customer impact, independence, and stability
- Understand why some teams (like checkout teams) are finance-friendly while others (like platform teams) require more complex ROI justification
- Learn how team structure directly impacts your ability to measure and communicate business value
- Recognize when to worry about detailed ROI tracking versus when to focus on broader strategic outcomes
Topics Covered
unit-economics saas-metrics customer-acquisition-cost lifetime-value
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