$29low price · high ticket load
$400higher price · fewer accounts
55–60%illustrative AI gross margin range
The metrics that survive contact
| Metric | Definition | Trap |
|---|---|---|
| MRR | Recurring revenue normalized to a month | Annual prepayments and lifetime deals counted as current MRR |
| Gross margin | Revenue less hosting, fees, inference, and support tooling | Payment processing and model cost omitted |
| CAC | Acquisition spend divided by customers acquired | Founder time treated as free |
| LTV | ARPU × gross margin ÷ monthly churn | Gross margin omitted, overstating AI products |
AI makes the tail matter
Averages hide the users who can make a flat-rate AI plan unprofitable. Meter the write path and set per-account caps before growth.
Estimate label.
The margin range and charts on this page are illustrative research models, not a benchmark or forecast.
Derived from the supplied foundations, distribution-and-economics, and AI-assisted-development research.