SaaS Fundamentals
How to Use the Growth Dashboard
Step-by-step guide to Metricalytics Growth Dashboard: enter metrics, model scenarios, read KPI tiers, compare benchmarks, and get actionable recommendations for SaaS unit economics.
The Growth Dashboard connects CAC, LTV, LTV:CAC, payback, ROAS, break-even ROAS, and churn in one interactive view. Unlike single-metric calculators, it updates all related KPIs when you change one input, so you can see how improving churn affects LTV, payback, and unit economics together.
New to these metrics? Start with the SaaS Growth Metrics Overview for plain-language definitions, then return here. Each term in this guide links to its dedicated calculator and guide.
This guide walks through each section top to bottom.
Who should use the dashboard?
- Founders modeling unit economics before a fundraise or board meeting
- Marketers checking whether acquisition spend, ROAS, and payback support scaling
- Operators running what-if scenarios (best case / worst case) before committing budget
If you only need one metric, use the dedicated calculators linked at the end of this guide. The dashboard is for when metrics need to move together.
Step 1: Plan your scenarios (inputs)
Start at the top of the Growth Dashboard in Plan Your Scenarios.
Enter your core metrics
| Input | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Acquisition Spend | Total sales & marketing spend in the period (ads, comp, tools, agencies) |
| New Customers (monthly) | Paying customers acquired per month |
| ARPU (monthly) | Average monthly revenue per customer |
| Gross Margin | Gross margin %, typical SaaS is 70–85% |
| Monthly Logo Churn | % of customers lost per month |
| Ad Spend | Paid media spend in the same period as ad revenue |
| Ad-attributed Revenue | Revenue credited to ads within your attribution window |
All fields use the same currency selector at the top of the page.
Switch scenarios: Current, Best Case, Worst Case
Use the Current / Best Case / Worst Case tabs to model outcomes:
- Current: your baseline; edits here update the live KPI dashboard below
- Best Case: pre-filled optimistic deltas (lower CAC, higher ARPU, lower churn)
- Worst Case: pre-filled conservative deltas
Adjust any field in a scenario tab to run custom what-if simulations. For example: What if churn drops from 3% to 2% but CAC rises 10%?
Save scenarios locally
Use Saved Scenarios to name and store input sets in your browser. Saved data stays on your device, nothing is sent to a server. Load a saved scenario to compare against a new baseline later.
Step 2: Read the live KPI dashboard
Scroll to Live KPI Dashboard after entering inputs.
KPI cards and tier labels
Each card shows a computed metric with a tier label:
| Metric | Tier scale |
|---|---|
| LTV:CAC | Weak (<3) · Healthy (3–4) · Strong (4–6) · Review for underinvestment (6+) |
| CAC Payback | Best (<6 mo) · Strong (6–12) · Acceptable (12–18) · Weak (18+) |
| Churn | Segment-based, select SMB, Mid-market, or Enterprise above the grid |
| ROAS | Below break-even · Near break-even · Above break-even · Strong (1.5x+ break-even) |
Each card links to related calculators for a deeper dive on that metric.
Churn segment selector
Churn benchmarks differ by customer segment. Use the Churn benchmark segment dropdown (SMB / Mid-market / Enterprise) before reading the churn tier. The reference scale updates to match your segment.
Step 3: Review charts and scenario comparison
MRR at risk from churn
Shows steady-state MRR eroding if acquisition paused, based on your churn rate. Useful for illustrating retention ROI to stakeholders.
Scenario comparison table
Compares all key metrics across Current, Best Case, and Worst Case side by side. The LTV:CAC by Scenario chart visualizes unit economics across the three scenarios.
Step 4: Act on recommendations
The Insights & Recommendations block generates rule-based guidance from your metrics and tier labels, for example, flagging ROAS below break-even or LTV:CAC below 3:1. Each recommendation links to the relevant calculator when applicable.
Tips for accurate results
- Align time periods: acquisition spend and new customers must cover the same window
- Use gross-margin LTV: revenue-based LTV overstates value; margin-based LTV is correct for unit economics
- Match ad spend and ad revenue: use the same attribution window for both ROAS inputs
- Segment churn: pick the segment that matches your customer base before judging churn tiers
- Start from calculators: if you only know one metric today, use a single calculator first, then copy values into the dashboard
When to use calculators vs the dashboard
| Situation | Use |
|---|---|
| Quick single-metric check | Individual calculator |
| Board deck or investor unit economics | Growth Dashboard |
| What-if on churn + CAC + LTV together | Growth Dashboard |
| Channel-specific ROAS only | ROAS Calculator |
| Funnel or budget reverse-engineering | Funnel Planner or Budget Planner |
Individual calculators (step-by-step)
Need help with a single tool? Each calculator page includes inputs, formula explanation, FAQs, and a connected metrics insights block.
| Calculator | Link |
|---|---|
| CAC Calculator | Open CAC Calculator |
| LTV Calculator | Open LTV Calculator |
| LTV:CAC Ratio | Open LTV:CAC Calculator |
| ROAS Calculator | Open ROAS Calculator |
| CAC Payback Period | Open CAC Payback Calculator |
| Break-even ROAS | Open Break-even ROAS Calculator |
| Budget Planner | Open Budget Planner |
| Churn Impact | Open Churn Impact Calculator |
| Funnel Planner | Open Funnel Planner |
Browse all tools on the calculators hub.
Related guides
- SaaS Growth Metrics Overview, how metrics connect
- SaaS Unit Economics Guide, LTV:CAC framework in depth
- LTV:CAC Ratio Guide, benchmarks by stage