ROI Calculator

Overview

An ROI calculator turns "this seems valuable" into "this pays for itself in 4.3 months with a 3-year ROI of 340%." It is the single most powerful document in enterprise sales because it translates product capabilities into financial outcomes that economic buyers can approve. The mistake: building a calculator that overclaims and destroys credibility. The fix: conservative assumptions with documented sources, so every number is defensible under scrutiny.

Authoritative Foundations

• Madhavan Ramanujam — Monetizing Innovation (WTP research) — Monetizing Innovation (WTP research)
• ValueSelling Framework — Value pyramid and quantified value — Value pyramid and quantified value
• David Skok — SaaS Unit Economics — SaaS metrics — CAC payback, LTV/CAC, unit economics by stage.
• MEDDICC — Economic Buyer + Metrics (quantified value) — Qualification scorecard — Metrics, Economic buyer, Decision criteria, Champion, Competition.
• Gartner — TCO and ROI methodology — TCO and ROI methodology